52 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
52 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
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MDMA - FDA REPORT
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RESPONSE:
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The Food and Drug Administration has received inquiries about
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the drug MDMA (3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE) referred
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to in news media stories as an unregulated "DESIGNER DRUG."
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The following may be used to answer inquiries.
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MDMA is a psychotropic drug, street named "ADAM" and
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" ECSTASY, " popular among a small number of therapists and
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psychiatrists, although it has never been approved by FDA. The
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therapists claim that MDMA increases perceptions of self-insight
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and empathy. Recreational users claim that the drug relaxes
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inhibitions and enhances communications and sex. However, no
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INDs have been filed with FDA.
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Chemically, MDMA is related to both the amphetamines and
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mescaline and especially to a potent stimulant known as MDA.
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Although it was developed in the 1970's, there was no
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enforcement activity involving MDMA manufacture or possession
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prior to last July. At that time, after a strong upsurge of
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MDMA street use, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
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proposed listing it as a "Schedule 1 Controlled Substance" --
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the category for drugs with no medical use and a high abuse
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potential. In the Schedule 1 category (which includes heroin,
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LSD and MDA), clandestine production or sale of MDMA would be
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punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.
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The DEA proposal was protested by some nurses, physicians and
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professors of pharmacology who wrote letters demanding a
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hearing. They challenged the proposed scheduling on the grounds
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that the drug has only a low or moderate abuse potential and has
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great therapeutic usefulness.
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DEA announced May 31, 1985 it will not wait for hearings before
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acting because recent data indicate that the drug is being
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abused in 28 states. DEA is using a 1984 change in the
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Controlled Substances Act which allows emergency scheduling of
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drugs for one year. DEA's emergency ban will become effective
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July 1.
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The emergency action is an interim measure to curb MDMA abuse
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until the longer administrative process can be completed. DEA
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has scheduled hearings June 10 and 11 in Los Angeles and July 10
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and 11 in Kansas City. A third hearing will be scheduled later
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in Washington, DC. FDA will participate in the hearings to
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testify on the pharmacological aspects of the drug.
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