MDMA is a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception, often producing feelings of euphoria, empathy, and emotional well-being. Short for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, MDMA is chemically similar to both stimulants and psychedelics. Under its influence, colors and sounds (especially music) are experienced more intensely, which has made it a popular recreational drug, particularly at raves and music festivals. Though it has a reputation as a club drug, MDMA’s ability to help people gain access to their emotions made it a popular drug to treat depression in the late 1970s, as well as in couples therapy to foster closeness. The psychologist and psychotherapist who first brought MDMA to the world of psychotherapy, Leo Zeff, reportedly called the drug “penicillin for the soul.” But after it became a popular recreational drug, the DEA added MDMA to the list of Schedule 1 drugs in 1985. In the early 2000s, however, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) launched the first clinical study into MDMA’s therapeutic potential, specifically for PTSD. In one study, 68% of the 107 participants involved no longer had PTSD one year after treatment. Now, pure crystal MDMA (the only form of the drug that may be legally administered by a medical professional) is in Phase III clinical trials for use as a therapeutic aid in the treatment of PTSD and has been granted “Breakthrough Therapy” status by the FDA. MDMA is on track for full FDA approval and could be prescribed by doctors as early as 2022.
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