Ecstasy is one of the most popular drugs on today’s market due to its easy availability and the perception among younger users that it’s not addictive. And this despite the fact that many studies of Ecstasy use indicate that as many as 43% of users show symptoms of dependency while up to 60% suffer regular withdrawal symptoms. Even more alarming is a recent study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse that revealed 25% of those questioned knew of a friend or classmate who used ecstasy. According to the same study, 17% of respondents knew more than one user.

The fact is Ecstasy is a wildly popular drug. Especially among those of the younger generation who tend to frequent the rave party scene. On the street the drug is known by other names including Scooby snacks, disco biscuit, essence, and X. And one of the biggest problems with this drug is the fact that almost no one except the original maker really knows what’s in a given batch of pills. In fact, emergency room doctors are more and more sounding the alarm regarding patients who come in with Ecstasy-related issues and doctors who cannot treat them effectively because they can’t identify what drugs have actually been ingested.

It is common for the makers of Ecstasy to dilute their formula with other drugs in order to make it cheaper to produce. The combination of these drugs can sometimes prove fatal. This is especially true when users "stack" Ecstasy; meaning they take more than one dose and combine it with alcohol or other drugs. Young people especially, do not comprehend the danger of this practice and it often kills them.

If there’s any good news about this drug, it’s the fact that in its pure form (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA) it may show some clinical promise as a treatment for some psychiatric disorders. Of course, even if the FDA were to approve such a use, it is still illegal and dangerous as a recreational drug.

Even though Ecstasy is touted as modern LSD, it is much more dangerous and should be avoided completely. Whether you’re a casual or regular user of Ecstasy, you’re playing Russian roulette every time you swallow a pill. Now is the time to break free. The feelings of happiness and euphoria you experience from the drug are temporary, at best, and addictive at worst. Now is the time to replace those empty feelings with the lasting satisfaction and happiness that are created by meaningful and productive life activities. Forget the Ecstasy name, it is very misleading.