Last summer, I became inspired to write an article about the
potential benefits of the club drug, MDMA, otherwise known as
Ecstasy or Molly. The blog post got turned into an article for
my alma mater's science magazine, The Synapse, and was published
a few months ago. With permission, I am cross-posting it here. A
quick life update for anyone who is interested will be at the
bottom of this post. In Europe and the United States, the drug
known as ecstasy is the magic bullet that loosens the
inhibitions of many dancers at all-night dance parties known as
“raves.” Ecstasy—or “Molly” in its allegedly purer form—is a
psychedelic drug with a signature high that produces an intense
sensory experience coupled with feelings of euphoria and
closeness with others. However, ecstasy's tendency to raise body
temperatures and dehydrate users in over-packed, sweltering
clubs creates a dangerous situation that troubles parents and
politicians alike. Though ecstasy has been the culprit behind
some tragic deaths since its popul