Properties Of MDMA Research Articles

Adolescent pre-exposure to ethanol or MDMA prolongs the conditioned rewarding effects of MDMA

Adolescents often take ethanol (EtOH) in combination with MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine). In the present work we studied the effect of repeated intermittent adolescent pre-exposure to both drugs on the behavioral and neurochemical effects of MDMA in mice. Sixteen days after pre-treatment, the rewarding and reinstating effects of MDMA in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm were evaluated, along with the levels of biogenic amines, basal motor activity and corticosterone response to different challenges. Pre-exposure to EtOH, MDMA or EtOH+MDMA did not affect the CPP induced by 10mg/kg of MDMA. However, adolescent exposure to EtOH or MDMA increased the duration of the conditioned rewarding effects of MDMA. Following extinction of the CPP, a priming dose of 5mg/kg of MDMA elicited reinstatement in all the groups, with the duration of this reinstated CPP being longer in mice pre-treated with MDMA. After reinstatement, an increase in monoamine levels was observed in mice pre-exposed to EtOH (DA, DOPAC and 5-HT in the striatum and 5-HIAA in the cortex and hippocampus) or MDMA (5-HT in the hippocampus). Basal motor activity and basal levels of corticosterone were not affected by any of these pre-treatments, but the group pre-exposed to MDMA showed higher levels of corticosterone in response to the administration of 10mg/kg of MDMA. Behavioral and hormonal effects of adolescent exposure to MDMA were reversed by co-administration of EtOH. Our results suggest that exposure to EtOH or MDMA during adolescence prolongs the rewarding properties of MDMA.

Cannabinoids, Opioids and MDMA: Neuropsychological Interactions Related to Addiction

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is an amphetamine derivative with psychostimulant properties. This substance is widely used around the world by young adults in recreational settings. One of the most remarkable characteristic of ecstasy users is the concurrent consumption of several other drugs of abuse including psychostimulants, alcohol, tobacco, LSD, cannabis and opioids. This poly-drug pattern of use is now prompting research towards understanding how the combination of MDMA with cannabis and opioids could affect neuropsychobiological processes related to addiction. As with other drugs of abuse, behavioural evidence has been presented supporting the role of the endocannabinoid system as a modulator of the rewarding/reinforcing properties of MDMA. On the other hand, the neurochemical substrate for the complex interactions between the endocannabinoid system and MDMA is poorly understood. MDMA also modulates the activity of the dynorphinergic and enkephalinergic systems in several brain structures related to addiction, as it has been shown for other psychostimulants. The work regarding the contribution of micro- and delta-opioid receptors in the rewarding effects of MDMA shows differential results in pharmacological studies in rats, with respect to studies using knock-out mice. The present review describes the behavioural and neurochemical interactions between MDMA, cannabinoids and opioids with respect to addiction processes.

S.16.02 Rewarding properties of MDMA – behaviour and underlying mechanisms

S.16.02 Rewarding properties of MDMA – behaviour and underlying mechanisms

The Values and Control of MDMA

Over the last 20 years, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)—commonly known as “Ecstacy”—has been given a substantial amount of attention through reports from the media and criminal justice agencies. However, descriptions of the scheduling process and the values of MDMA are often neglected in such reports. First, I attempt to describe the scheduling of MDMA by the Drug Enforcement Administration that has led to a lack of research concerning its properties. Second, I draw on the extant literature to provide detailed and rich descriptions of the therapeutic values of MDMA. Although subjective experiences undoubtedly differ across contexts and personal experiences, it has been demonstrated that common characteristics of MDMA are distinguishable from other Schedule I drugs. Finally, I argue that the categorization of MDMA as a Schedule I drug has created a dearth of empirical evidence regarding the properties of MDMA due to the control of MDMA research.