Fake Ecstasy | Identification & Risks Of Use

Ecstasy is a stimulant and a psychoactive party drug that’s often used by festival goers, partygoers, and young people at raves or nightclubs.

The club drug causes effects like euphoria, increased energy, and altered sensations. But knowing whether you have actual ecstasy can be harder than you might think.

Unfortunately, fake ecstasy ( or fake MDMA) has become more and more prevalent on the drug market, especially since COVID lockdowns.

Fake pills can look like ecstasy but often contain anything but. Detecting the difference can be very difficult and, once you use it, it can lead to serious side effects and even death.

Identifying Fake Ecstasy

Identifying fake ecstasy is easier said than done. Fake ecstasy pills can be the same color and have the same logos as legitimate ecstasy. Real ecstasy usually comes as a pill, capsule, powder, or as small crystals.

Ecstasy pills can be any color. It really depends on who made them. This is why it’s so difficult to know what’s real and what’s not.

The only way to know for sure if you have ecstasy or not is to test it.

Ecstasy Drug Test Kit

Ecstasy test kits identify the presence of the drug by using a Marquis reagent. This kind of kit also tests for Molly, amphetamine, and other substances of abuse like bath salts.

For example, if your testing liquid turns yellow within five seconds, you likely have fake ecstasy that could contain dangerous adulterants or additives.

Additives In Fake Ecstasy

Fake ecstasy can contain any number of substances. Many people may use it without knowing that it’s counterfeit until it leads to adverse effects.

Some of the substances fake ecstasy may contain include:

• synthetic cathinones (bath salts)
• caffeine
• MDA (mimics the effects of MDMA)
• methamphetamines
• amphetamines
• dextromethorphan (DXM)
• ketamine (very rare)
• opioids like fentanyl
• paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA)

Risks Of Fake Ecstasy Use

There are a few different risks that come with fake ecstasy use including overdose and dangerous side effects.

Overdose

One of the biggest risks that come with taking fake ecstasy is an overdose. When you don’t know what you’re taking, it’s very easy to overdose on it. This is especially the case when instead of MDMA, you receive PMA.

PMA takes longer than MDMA to go into effect and this often leads people to take more of it, increasing the risk of overdose and death.

It also doesn’t help that PMA is toxic at lower doses than MDMA. So, you could take a dose of ecstasy and be fine but that same dose of PMA could be fatal.

The same goes for many other adulterants like fentanyl, ketamine, and meth.

Serious Side Effects

If you don’t overdose on fake ecstasy, it doesn’t mean the drug can’t do substantial damage or lead to serious side effects.

Some of these side effects can include:

• coma
• high body temperature
• rapid heart rate
• psychosis
• difficulty breathing
• hallucinations
• seizures

How To Avoid The Effects Of Fake Ecstasy

While avoiding drugs entirely is ideal, there are some things to look out for and to stay away from if possible:

Stay Away From Street Pills

It is very difficult to tell what’s in a pill. Even if you split it in half, with everything pressed together, it’s impossible to see what it contains. It’s much easier to tell with powder or crystals.

Don’t Take A Whole Pill

If you have an ecstasy pill, taking a small amount and seeing how you feel is better than taking the whole thing and then experiencing serious issues. Harm reduction can be the best option in some cases.

Avoid Mixing Drugs

Whether you have a legitimate ecstasy pill or not, drinking alcohol or taking other drugs increases your risk of overdose and other severe side effects.

Get Help For Substance Abuse

If you need help combating illicit drug use, contact us today to learn how we can help.