Known to increase energy and feelings of happiness, MDMA allows users to party through the night without becoming tired. Over the last three years the drug, which is a powerful concentration of ecstasy, has become one of the most consumed in France, just behind cocaine and cannabis. It is also easy to procure: business is booming for dealers.
But doctors are becoming increasingly concerned at the spike in hospital admissions as a result of the affects of the drug: one person a month dies in France after taking a drug, whilst there have been cases of comas, heart attacks and memory loss. Large events even have designated areas for those who have taken too much and need to recover.
As a result the authorities are beginning to crack down with the use of sniffer dogs and harsh punishments to try to stem the flow of circulation. What is it about MDMA that makes it so appealing? Could there be serious risks to this drug trend?