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by yesbabyyes 3176 days ago
Is it possible to do this, today, anywhere in the world (without getting into a study, which seems hard, especially in another country)? I am looking for help for somebody close to me.
4 comments

It would be interesting to determine the efficacy of actual MDMA (commonly available in the 90s) vs what is referred to as 'Molly' today...

The issue is that they may or may not be actual MDMA - and the unscrupulous label general amphetamines as either molly or MDMA and people unfamiliar dont know it....

The clinical studies should, presumably, be also, setting a standard for the purity, dosage, quality etc around the tested substance...

So to go "off grid" as it were, to test this has risks..

That being said - the efficacy of any therapy session, even when the introspection and emotional response is deliberately induced, could still result in benefits.

The problem with any drugs, beit alcohol, weed, whatever - is that environment (situational and historically) play a large part in the response.

The mental state can be associative to a great degree, and as such - if one has had a tool such as MDMA in the past - but in a really poor environment, the response could be poor.

Read up on it - but never trust anything off the street to be what they claim...

Thanks samstave, yes, I am definitely looking for pointers towards something "on grid" in particular.

That being said, I am pretty sure I can find the drug, I know some people that I can trust. Preferably it would be administered by the therapist, though.

Thanks, too, for the caution. I have already found someone in my native country who is a psychologist who also does AI stuff with Tensorflow, so I trust them already. ;)

Be aware:

"87% of “Molly” analyzed by the DEA between 2009 and 2013 contained 0% MDMA, instead mostly containing “bath salts” like methylone.3"

https://rollsafe.org/whats-in-molly/

Thanks anythingnonidin - again, I am not planning to get my friend pills off the street and pull this cowboy style. I am looking for guided counselling. That being said, I have a friend who I trust, who knows his things (well, when it comes to these things, at least).
> who knows his things (well, when it comes to these things, at least).

I’d venture to guess that half the people buying MDMA-less molly would say the same thing.

If your friend isn’t sitting in the lab while it’s being made or not doing mass spec on it the product, it’s all someone’s word.

Get and use a chemical assay kit of some kind. Trust but verify.
There are a number of testing kits out there:

http://testkitplus.com/product/mdma-test-kit

Get a test kit and understand how it works. That's the only way to have a good idea what the compound is.

https://dancesafe.org/

Just anecdotally, I worked out a lot of deep seated personal issues with people at rave after parties. Really you just need anyone you trust to listen to you.
Only if you know a willing therapist.
And that therapist has access to 100% _pure_ (and unfortunately illegal) MDMA.

This is one of the great tragedies of the war on drugs: UN member states are bound to the convention under law, so until this unjust (and unscientific) barrier is torn down it will always be dangerous and difficult to acquire for therapeutic purposes. But things, thankfully, are changing for the better.

It's the powers that be (money; pharmaceutical industry) who want these substances to remain criminalized, because these substances can be way more powerful and much cheaper than anti-depressants & Co. - and without destructive side-effects. So what MDMA, LSD, psilocybin and others can do is make people much healthier and the industry a tiny bit less rich, which is only in "the people's" interest.
> and without destructive side-effects

You can mess up your serotonin levels for an extended period of time through MDMA abuse.

I guess that might be a direct effect rather than a side effect, but that doesn't seem to be your point.

>> You can mess up your serotonin levels for an extended period of time through MDMA abuse.

You can do that with SSRIs too. You can also kill yourself with opioids. The problem is that MDMA isn't even available by prescription. The first I heard of it was on a TV special covering its use in therapy sessions - that was in the 1980s prior to the whole ecstasy fad. Why is this useful substance totally illegal, while much more harmful and addictive things are legal, available, and causing problems?

Abuse also causes be neurological damage from oxidative stress, in the raver scene sufferers of these effects are referred to as e-tards.

But abuse of anything can be harmful, that's kind of a defining qualification of the whole concept of abuse, isn't it?

Thanks bdamm. Yes, in particular, I am looking for pointers to that, I suppose. Perhaps, somewhere there is one and we could travel there.
I don't have any references for you but this interview with a psychiatrist who would use MDMA with his patients (and LSD) when he deemed it beneficial is interesting.
Thanks pizza - you seem to lack the "forgot to post link"-extension ;)

No, really, I am interested. Please share. Thanks.

Here you go: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ppxx97/meet-the-only-doct...

Switzerland rocks in many ways.

If you decide to attempt the process in a place where you can't be guaranteed 100% pure MDMA, I suggest you look into Marquis reagents.
I know someone who recovered from an extremely traumatic experience through accidental self medication whilst out partying.
It's sad but it happens. Set and setting is most important -- and needless to say, knowing what you're taking is even more so.
This is such bullshit. I for instance know someone who got severe depressions from taking madma a few times. Don’t just believe the hype!
I don't think your comment's parent was advocating doing that. It merely offered an existence proof. Your anecdote can't beat up his, and vice versa.