From: natashavita@earthlink.net
Date: Tue Apr 22 2003 - 09:21:16 MDT
From: Amara Graps
Samantha Atkins:
>I am not familiar with the history of the use of MDMA in
>psychotherapy. I know that MDA was originally quite successful
>in the treatement of alcoholism, which is what it was designed for.
"I'd have to pull out my copy of PIHKAL and look, but some words on
its use in psychotherapy might be described in that book.
"Following a paper trail with Dr. Lester Grinspoon might shed some light,
as well:
http://www.maps.org/dea-mdma/pdf/0006.PDF
"Testimony of Dr. Lester Grinspoon, comparing the decision to schedule
MDMA to the scheduling of LSD, halting potentially beneficial research,
and discussing MDMA's promise in therapy, April 18, 1985."
____________________________
I thought MDMA was first used by therapists to bring out the "real" or true
feelings of patients who were undergoing emotional blocks in their lives.
See history below:
"History (http://www.drugtext.org/sub/mdma1.html)
This history begins in 1912 when the German company Merck asked for a
patent on it. (note 114) The patent was allowed to expire without being
used. They cropped up again when the US army showed an interest in
hallucinogens and commissioned research in 1953/54 on MDA, MDMA and other
substances as a truth serum. They proved to be unsuitable for this purpose.
The results of this research were not published until 1973 (note 115). MDA
became popular in the Sixties, while MDMA was first identified as a street
drug in 1972. (note 116)
In 1978 Shulgin and Nichols (note 117) published a scientific article on
the structure and effects of MDA, MDMA and other substances. This knowledge
had already been available for some time, however. Among those who knew
about it were a number of psychotherapists who increasingly applied MDMA as
a psychotherapeutic aid. (notes 118, 119) In 1981 it acquired its present
name, Ecstasy (XTC). This was when its recreational use (as a stimulant)
started in the ,United States. Soon afterwards its use rapidly spread
outside the United States as well. In Dallas, where alcohol was prohibited
at the Southern Methodist University, students bought legal MDMA as a
substitute, paying by credit card. The US consumption rose from 10,000
doses in the whole year of 1976 to 30,000 doses a month in 1985. (note 120)
At the same time the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that
30,000 doses a month were being used in the state of Texas alone. A 1987
survey revealed that 40% of students on the campus of Stanford University
had used MDMA.(note 121) In 1985 MDMA was prohibited by the Drug
Enforcement Administration, when it was given the same status as heroin and
LSD.
MDMA was also used by Baghwan followers and spread to Europe. The setting
for its use there was different. It was first used on Ibiza, where the
combination of XTC with dancing to deafening electronic music in an exotic
nightlife atmosphere was invented. It spread from there to England and the
Netherlands in particular, where a new youth culture emerged which is now
spread all over Europe: the 'raves'.
A large number of substances are sold under the name of XTC, including
amphetamine, ketamine, PCP, and caffeine, as~well as a range of 'normal'
medicines as pure fakes.(note 122) We shall now review the main
entactogens, whether they are sold as XTC or not.
METHYLENEDIOXIAMPHETAMINE (MDA)
Shulgin (note 123) describes the hallucinogenic effect of MDA as follows:
'it produces eyesclosed hallucinations of a commanding sort. There is quite
consistently a recollection of past events, of childhood memories, a
reliving of earlier times that appear to be, as far as can be documented,
quite accurate.'
MDA seemed to be unique in that it reinforces mainly emotions and empathy
to a high degree and creates a strong emotional link with others present.
It was these effects which made MDA popular as a recreational drug. MDA
also has a clear sympathomimetic activity.
The usual dose is between 80 and 160 mg, and the effect lasts for 8 to 12
hours. In connection with the search for a truth drug, this substance was
administered by the US army to a number of test persons, in some cases
without their knowledge. In one case, a psychiatric patient, the
intravenous injection of 500 mg was fatal. (note 124)
METHYLENEDIOXIMETAMPHETAMINE (MDMA)
'The first effect is very fast, within half an hour of consumption. Most
test persons report that the plateau of the effect begins within another
half hour to one hour. The symptoms of~intoxication have largely vanished
after another two hours, apart from the slight remains of sympathomimetic
stimulation, which can last for a number of hours more. There are few
physical symptoms of intoxication, and psychological postsymptoms are
virtually absent. In qualitative terms, the drug seems to elicit an easily
controllable changed state of consciousness with emotional and sensual
overtones. In terms of effect, it can be compared with marihuana,
psilocybin without the hallucinatory component, or low doses of MDA.' (note
117)
Ten years later, an anonymous informant, a respectable fifty year old,
described the effect as follows:
'The drug removes all your neuroses. It takes away the fear of response.
There is an overwhelming sense of peace, you are at peace with the world.
You feel open, clear, tender. I can't imagine that anyone is angry under
its influence, or selfish or mean of defensive. You have lots of insight
into yourself, real insight, which you hold on to after the experience is
gone.' (note 125)"
Natasha
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