Harm Reduction: MDMA pleasure and Harm Reduction (1)

This guideline is intended as an "instruction manual" for the use of MDMA. It is open to corrections, improvements and suggestions from the community. There are many good guides to Harm Reduction and MDMA, so I will focus it on specific aspects

1.- "Less is more": dosages and frequencies

Spacing out usage is a basic rule for any drug consumption. Still, in the case of MDMA, it not only allows for safer use, but also intensifies and enhances the pleasurable effects. By doing this, you can prevent the development of pharmacological tolerance, where you need to increase the dosage to achieve the same results, and delay the onset of the "loss of magic" phenomenon.

Some people will only experiment with MDMA once or twice in their lives. But other persons may want to have repeated experiences. However, recommending a universal frequency for safe use is difficult without diminishing effects. Some experts suggest that "once a week is the highest frequency with which MDMA can be used without diminishing its effects, although it would be much more sensible to use it once a month" (Eisner, 1990). On the other hand, Ann Shulgin warns that "it should not be used more than four times a year, as more frequent use causes the loss of magic."

To properly dose MDMA, it is important to keep in mind that less is more. The minimum active dose is 30mg, while a typical dose ranges from 75 to 140mg. Dosages closer to the lower end of this rank are recommended for first-time users and/or low body weight.

Women should start with lower doses than men because both the desired and adverse effects are more intense among them.
Experienced users or those with a larger build can take doses closer to 120-140mg.

The effects of a single dose usually last for 4-6 hours, and it's possible to prolong the experience by taking a supplementary dose when the effects of the first one start to decline, typically around 2-3 hours later the first intake. This second dosage should not to exceed half the initial dose. Some people use a third, additional dosage (half the second one)

Example:
T+0 h : 120 mg
T + 2:30 h: 60 mg
T + 5 : 30 mg

However, taking successive doses will not prolong the experience indefinitely. Consecutive doses will produce a disappearance of the pleasant effects of MDMA and an increase in adverse effects, both during the experience (jaw tension, anxiety, dry mouth, tachycardia, etc.) and in the following days (depression, loss of appetite, etc.).

Therefore, intelligent and responsible MDMA use involves being aware of the limits of the experience and recognizing that it's pointless to try to "stay on top" indefinitely.

2. Formats of presentation

2.1.- Pills
The illegality of MDMA makes it challenging to know the exact content of a particular pill, so dosing can be tricky. A pill's size, shape, or color does not provide any information about the amount of MDMA or other products it may contain. Samples from the same batch usually contain similar concentrations.

The illegality of MDMA makes it challenging to know the exact content of a particular pill, so dosing can be tricky. A pill's size, shape, or color does not provide any information about the amount of MDMA or other products it may contain. Samples from the same batch usually contain similar concentrations.

-PENDING-
In general, adulterated pills are not very common. Data available suggest that pills from cryptomarkets have a quality more than acceptable. In the last years there is a tendency to offer high-dosage MDMA pills and it is not strange to find pills with 150-200 mg

Some "classical" adulterations are:
• PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine) and PMMA (paramethylmethoxyamphetamine). Both are highly toxic and can lead to death.
• Piperazines : meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP). They are less toxic than PMA/PMMA but act as psychostimulant, anxiety-provoking, and pro-hallucinogenic
• The high accessibility of RCs makes any of these substances susceptible to fraudulent use as a substitute for MDMA. N-Ethyl-Pentylone, 2C-B-fly or cathinone derivatives have been detected. In recent months, tablets containing 3-CMC (3-chloromethcathinone) have also been detected in both crystal and tablet samples.
• Also, there are other recreational drugs different to MDMA that appear in pill forms. (For example 2C-B or MDA). This is not a problem if the person knows about the substance he will use. But it can be unpleasant to encounter an unexpected psychedelic experience, when one expects the warm empathy of MDMA.
• Finally, any drug in pill form can attempt to pass itself off as MDMA. In this respect, the likelihood of buying a grandmother's medication is higher if the transaction is made with a stranger in an after-hours or infested slum. Having a trusted dealer (or a vendor) is also a risk reduction strategy.