MDMA is a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception. It was first patented in 1913 by a German chemical company called Merck. MDMA was supposed to be sold as a weight loss pill, then the company decided not to market it and did nothing else. Alexander Shulgin was the next person to come into contact with the drug. Shulgin, after parting ways with Dow Chemicals, began to extend his research into new compounds and specialize in the phenethylamine family of drugs, which are central nervous system stimulants. Some time later, since MDMA had already been patented, he obtained permission to sell the drug by withholding the patent and justifying the drug's benefits as a medicine. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In 1985, MDMA received enormous media attention when a group of people sued the US Drug Enforcement Agency to try to stop them from outlawing the drug. A hearing was called in which one party argued that MDMA caused brain damage in rats, while others argued that this may not be true of humans and that there was evidence of beneficial use of MDMA as a pharmacological treatment in psychotherapy. Ultimately, the judge placed the drug in schedule 3, meaning that the drug has a lower potential for abuse than the drugs in schedules 1 and 2. Today the drug is not abused as much as it was in the 1980s and 90s, but there has been a spike in usage in recent years. For example, between 2004 and 2008, emergency room visits due to MDMA problems increased by 75 percent, to more than 17,000 cases. This illegal drug is often taken for a sense of well-being, stimulation, or waste of time. The chances of coming into contact with MDMA are not as common as marijuana itself. However, it is still relevant today. Although it stimulates and gives a feeling of high, it has many negative effects on the body on a psychological and physiological level. After administration of MDMA, blood pressure will increase and there is a possibility of possible renal failure and, in rare cases, hyperthermia. MDMA is most commonly found at large group parties, such as raves. During raves the person is in constant movement, which causes an increase in body temperature. With the addition of MDMA consumption the chances of hyperthermia increase significantly. On the other hand, MDMA has many psychological effects. For example, a greater sense of well-being, emotional warmth, and willingness to discuss memories. This may explain why MDMA's nickname is the "love drug," due to the desire to talk and share memories. Consuming MDMA does more than just get you high, it has a much more damaging effect on the body. MDMA not only affects the body, but also affects specific parts of the brain. When MDMA is taken, it automatically affects specific parts of the brain which include: basal ganglia, neocortex, and hypothalamus. The basal ganglia is the part of the limbic system directly related to dopamine, which gives MDMA its addictive qualities. The neocortex is the part of the brain that deals with higher order thinking, giving MDMA users a sense of heightened perception. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that deals with hunger and thirst. This causes MDMA users to have less of an appetite. Specific parts of the brain are hindered by the administration of MDMA. MDMA also has an effect on neural compensation and productivity. Researchers at the University of Liverpool conducted a study examining the effects of MDMA on several.