What are the street names for it?

Fantasy (MDMA), Adam, Bean, E, M, Roll, X, XTC, doves, disco biscuits, echoes, hug drug, eccies, burgers, truck driver.

What type of drug is it?

MDMA or Ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. It is a stimulant.

What does it look like?

Ecstasy come in a tablet form that is often branded, e.g. cartoon characters, Nike swoosh, CK. MDMA or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (C 11 H 15 NO 2 ) is an amphetamine derivative. This synthetic chemical can be extracted from an essential oil of the sassafrass tree.

What is its history?

Ecstasy was first patented in Germany in 1912 as a potential appetite suppressant though it wasn't until the 1970s that Dr. Alexander Shulgin introduced ecstasy to those with an interest in drug-assisted psychotherapy and medical and psychiatric journals began to present articles on its psycho-activity. In the late 1970s and early 1980s MDMA was used as a psychotherapeutic tool and also started to become available on the street. It gained wider popularity when many truck drivers had begun using it as a stimulant.

How is it used?

Usually comes in tablets of different shapes, size and colour (but often white) or is loaded into placebo capsules. The primary method of use is orally. A powder form of MDMA can also be sniffed but this is less common. Much less frequent than sniffing is the injection or smoking of the drug, though this does occur. There are a number of analogs (chemically similar substances) of MDMA that are commonly sold as ecstasy on the street. These include MDA and MDEA (known as "Eve"). Additionally, ecstasy is notoriously unreliable in content, much more so than most other street drugs. "Ecstasy" pills have been known to contain caffeine, ephedrine, amphetamines, MDA, MDEA, DXM, heroin, cocaine and often don't contain any MDMA or any psychoactive drug at all.

What are the effects?

Its effects include euphoria, an increase in emotional openness and a mild to moderate stimulant effect.
Mild to moderate doses of ecstasy produce a euphoric sense of well-being and a feeling of connectedness with and empathy for other people, an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence and increased energy. This "love effect" has become most closely associated with ecstasy use. Its stimulant effect has made it a favorite on the club and "rave" circuits. In overdoses or misuses though, users can experience confusion, disorientation, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, perceptual disorders and hallucinations, paranoia and psychosis.
Ecstasy has a physiological effect that is similar to amphetamine and cocaine. As such, studies have concluded that even mild to moderate use may cause changes in mood, memory, appetite, sleep, aggression, sexual activity and sensitivity to pain, leading to long-term depression and other mental illness .

Physical Dependence:

reported but unconfirmed

Psychical Dependence:

moderate

Tolerance:

moderate