Ecstasy — or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) — is a recreational drug that is illegal in the United States. However, some researchers believe that it could aid in mental health therapy. A new study in mice puts this idea to the test.
MDMA is a mind-altering drug that can be popular at parties, as it boosts energy and especially empathy, making people feel more connected and safe around others, even if they are strangers.
In the U.S., MDMA is classed as a Schedule I drug, which makes it illegal, as a substance “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
However, this classification came after some psychiatrists had used the drug for therapeutic purposes, for many years, to help individuals who were struggling with communication feel more at ease and able to talk about their problems.