MDMA 101 - Interactive Course

Let's learn about

MDMA

3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine

AKA molly, ecstasy, E, X, "the love drug"

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What is it?

MDMA is an

empathogen

A synthetic compound that heightens trust, warmth, and emotional openness.

Comes as crystal, powder, or pressed pillsTaken swallowed, usually as a pill or capsule

1912First made

1970sTherapy

1980sNightlife

TodayHealing

What does the
research show?

Tap each pill to reveal a finding

Reduces PTSD symptoms in trials

Studied for social anxiety in autism

Studied for end-of-life anxiety

Early research in eating disorders

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How it unfolds

Tap through the experience

Before

Set & setting

Test your substance. Where and who you're with shapes everything.

Energy

Connection

Body temp

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Quick check

How much water is safest on MDMA?

Harm reduction

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✓

Test your substance so you know what you're taking

✓

Sip steadily with electrolytes - more if you are dancing, less if you are still

✓

Watch for overheating and changes in body temperature

✓

Pay attention to set and setting

Check all 4 to continue

What are the risks?

Overheating, especially when active or in a crowd

Low sodium from drinking too much water

Strain on the heart, blood pressure, and temperature

Dangerous mixes with other drugs or medications

Unknown strength or hidden adulterants

Low mood for a few days after, while serotonin recovers

Frequent or heavy use is linked to lasting changes in the serotonin system

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In the days after, some people feel the "Tuesday blues" - a temporary dip in mood, energy, or emotional steadiness as serotonin recovers. It is mostly reported after recreational use, not supervised clinical dosing.

Where it stands

Still illegal in the US - and further along the medical path than most people think

1985

Placed in Schedule I - the most restricted tier, defined as having no accepted medical use. It has stayed there since

2017

The FDA granted MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD breakthrough therapy status, a lane meant to speed up promising treatments

2024

After Phase 3 trials the FDA declined to approve it, asking for more on how long the benefit lasts and how the trials handled bias

2026

The sponsor refiled in August, leaning on an independent audit and follow-up data rather than a new trial. A decision is expected in 2027

No US state offers supervised MDMA access the way Oregon and Colorado do for psilocybin

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Australia is the one country where approved psychiatrists can prescribe MDMA for PTSD, and only with supervised dosing. Everywhere else, outside a clinical trial, MDMA stays illegal to buy, hold, or use.

Myth or fact?

You made it ✦

Go back anytime to revisit. Knowing more keeps you and the people around you safer.

Finish →

Course complete

You finished MDMA 101. Knowing more keeps you and your people safer.

Sources

psychedelics.berkeley.edu · dancesafe.org · maps.org
history.com/articles/history-of-mdma · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Portal is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and this is harm-reduction education central to our mission - not medical or legal advice, and never an endorsement to use any drug. We do not encourage or promote using any substance. In an emergency, call 911. Need to talk during or after a trip? The Fireside Project support line: 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433), free and confidential.

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