According to the New York Times (2/8, Caron), in the past few years, “clinical trials have shown that MDMA, when combined with talk therapy, can bring relief to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, a finding that has elevated MDMA’s reputation from party drug to potential therapeutic.” Now, “some couples, drawn to the drug’s ability to produce feelings of empathy, trust and compassion, have started using unregulated MDMA on their own in an effort to help them reconnect, improve communication and have better sex.” Experts warn, however, that “MDMA, an amphetamine derivative, can have serious side effects,” and the illegal drug is “risky for people to use…on their own.” Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, who chairs the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Addiction Psychiatry, said, “This can include everything from a ‘bad trip,’ to reckless behavior to psychiatric symptoms like panic attacks or physical effects like hypertension or interactions with other medications.”
Related Links:
— “Can MDMA Save a Marriage? “Christina Caron, The New York Times, February 8, 2022