How Does MDMA Portrayal Media

MDMA and Media Portrayal

Illicit drugs are a significant problem to our society and especially our children. Illicit or illegal drugs are depicted on almost every media platform to include, movies, television programming, books and magazines, concerts and music, and Internet. Actors and actresses, musicians and artists are shown using drugs in various roles in the movies they are in and concerts they perform at. How does all this exposure to illegal substances affect our adolescents today? While substance abuse may be caused by varying factors, one thing is for sure, the media has played a key role in the number of adolescents who fall victim to drug use (Strasburger & The Council of Communications & Media, 2010). The prevalent forms of media

During the 1970’s some psychiatrists began using MDMA to treat mental health disorders FDA approval. During this time MDMA began becoming available on the streets leading to its ban in 1985 by the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to a 2004 survey conducted, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, persons’ aged 12 and older reported using ecstasy at least once. Ecstasy or Molly first gained popularity among Caucasian adolescents and young adults in the nightclub scene and raves. The profile steadying changed to include other demographics as well as spread outside of the nightclub scene (National Institute of Drug Abuse & Volkov,

It’s street name or common name in society is Molly or Ecstasy. It typically comes in pill form taken orally and usually just once, with effects lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. MDMA affects the brain by altering how chemical neurotransmitters communicate with each other. It is a known to be a toxin at high doses that can affect serotonin resulting in long-term damage to nerve cells. MDMA is known to raise the heart rate of users, blood pressure, and it also elevates body heat. All of this can lead to death in extreme cases. Consequently, many times MDMA is not the only drug contained in tablets sold on the streets. This drug can be used in a crystal or powder form but is typically in the form of a capsule or tablet. These combinations significantly increase the potential for harm or death. The commonly added drugs are caffeine, dextromethorphan, cocaine, ephedrine, and methamphetamine. The use of other licit and illicit drugs in combination with MDMA is also common and these include marijuana and alcohol, also causing alterations that make MDMA more