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| Volume 11, No. 43 |
July 28-3, 2010 |
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| Ecstasy
Use on the rise in El Paso | | By Lenny M. Vielma and Ryan B. Martinez | | 
For Kelly and Shelby, it all started one night at a friend's party.
Someone surprised them by leaving two brightly colored tablets on a table for them to try out.
The couple, who gave fake names after being approached at a local show while under the obvious influence, gushed when asked why they use ecstasy.
“Because it's badass!” Shelby said.
Kelly added later: “You feel happy all the time and excited about everything, even something as small as drinking a glass of water.”
The couple had spent more than $240 buying pills from various “connects” around town since their first month using.
They promised each other to not let their drug use impact their bills, but even they admitted to sometimes choosing ecstasy over buying groceries. “I'm not as hungry,” Kelly joked.
Their story has become more common in El Paso as ecstasy use has increased dramatically in the past year. Police have seized more than 1,598 grams of ecstasy so far in 2009, up from 114.96 in all of last year, and zero grams in 2007, said Sgt. Joel Peña of the El Paso Police Department (EPPD).
“We have had 33 reports this year where people have been found in possession,” said Michael Kaiser, EPPD public information officer. “Over the past two years the number of people we have found in possession has also gone up.”
The rise can be attributed to the drug's availability, which is made possible because ecstasy is easier to smuggle across the border than marijuana and cocaine, Peña said. But there are social and cultural causes as well, Kaiser said.
“Pop culture has glamorized it to an extent, raves and things like that,” he said. “When pop culture glamorizes something like that, unfortunately people want to start mimicking it, but the consequences outweigh any small amount of temporary pleasure that people can get from using this drug.”
What is Ecstasy?
MDMA, or ecstasy, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website.
Invented in the early 20th century, it gained a following among some psychologists in the '70s because of its perceived effect in treating certain disorders. In the '80s it made its way into the emerging electronic music scene; the DEA banned it in 1985, classifying it as a Schedule I drug - meaning it lacked any real therapeutic value.
What many users purchase, though, is not pure MDMA. Tablets can be adulterated by various other substances, including methamphetamine, caffeine, the over-the-counter cough suppressant Dextromethorphan and Ephedrine.
Tablets are made in a variety of colors and are usually stamped with symbols such as smiley faces or cartoon characters.
“There are about seven or eight different types going around El Paso right now,” said another user, who asked only to be identified as Daniel. “When they make it, they can choose to coat it with speed, heroin or cocaine. I've seen it being made. Most people have no idea what they are buying.”
Paraphernalia can include menthol nasal inhalers, eye drops, surgical masks, glowsticks, lollipops and pacifiers.
Not-so-ecstatic effects
Although not as addictive as other illegal drugs, ecstasy can have a dramatic effect on individuals.
“There is no physical addiction, but there may be a psychological addiction since the drug creates a euphoric effect,” said Eugene Flournoy, a chemical dependency counselor and program coordinator with Aliviane Inc., a local drug rehabilitation center. “The music, the dancing - it creates a psychological pull.”
Other negative effects include the possibility of tissue damage in the brain and other soft-tissue organs due to overheating and tooth damage. Other users have been known to “drown” themselves, or suffer water poisoning, by drinking too much water.
Withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, trouble concentrating and memory loss.
Legal consequences are severe. Punishments for possession, which is a felony, vary by the amount of drugs found. Less than a gram could get you anywhere from 180 days to two years and/or a fine up to $10,000, says Sgt. Peña, but 400 grams or more could come with a life sentence and/or up to a $50,000 fine.
“Usually what we deal with is simple possession,” says Peña, who says this year about 10 people have been arrested under the suspicion of being dealers. “The guys at the parties will have three, four pills on them - that's usually what they have on them.”
Kaiser says “every case is different” and court-enforced punishments vary not just by amount but by criminal history.
Comments or questions about this story? E-mail Secret@whatsuppub.com
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