Erowid MDMA Vault : Timeline

Fundamental #13: Note changes in health over time that may be related to psychoactive drug use.

MDMA

Timeline

by Erowid

1898		Some claim that Fritz Haber was the first to publish a synthesis for MDMA, but this appears not to the case. 1, 2 [Details] Haber's doctoral thesis "Uber einige Derivate des Piperonals" ['about a few piperonal derivatives'] for Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Berlin, described related syntheses, but does not include MDMA. Although this was a small controversy in the early 2000's, you can read our more recent understanding of this issue in Ask Erowid.
1912		MDMA first synthesized by Anton Köllisch and patented by Merck Pharmaceuticals in Germany. [Details] [More Info] Merck synthesized MDMA as a precursor during their investigation into haemostatic substances (not as an appetite suppressant as has been rumored). It is believed that Merck never went on to use MDMA for any purpose. After World War I, Merck's US unit was confiscated. The company most people know today as Merck is no longer affiliated with Merck (KGaA) of Germany. However at the time of the original MDMA patent, Merck was a single company.
1927		Merck chemist Max Oberlin conducts the first animal testing with MDMA while investigating 'adrenaline- or ephetonine-like' substances. 3
1953		The Army Chemical Center studied MDMA toxicity by giving MDMA to guinea pigs, rats, mice, monkeys, and dogs. It is determined to be less toxic than MDA. 4
1965		Alexander Shulgin synthesizes MDMA but does not yet try it. 5
c. 1967		The first small underground batches of MDMA are synthesized. Relatively few individuals have tried it at this point. 5
c. 1968		Alexander Shulgin begins working with MDMA personally and introducing others to it. 5
Aug 1970		First published case report of recreational MDMA use. 6
1976		The first scholarly article on MDMA is published. 7
c. 1977		MDMA begins to be available on the street as a recreational drug. 8
1977		Great Britain amended its Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) to include as Class A all compounds structurally derived from an N-alkyl-alpha-methylphenethylamine by substitution in the ring with an alkylendioxy substituent. This legislation encompassed all ring substituted amphetamines (including MDA, MDE, MDMA, etc). Class A is the most controlled category of drugs in Britain.
1977 - 1981		Only eight individuals seek emergency room treatment after the use of MDMA during this four year period according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). 8
1981 - 1985		There are zero people who seek emergency room treatment after the use of MDMA during this four year period, according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). 8
Mar 10-15, 1985		MDMA Conference 9 [Details] Held at Esalen in Big Sur, CA, this event was produced by Earth Metabolic Design (Rick Doblin's pre-MAPS organization) and participants included George Greer, Stan Grof, Claudio Naranjo, Phillip Wolfson, Richard Yensen, and others.
Jul 1, 1985		MDMA temporarily placed into Schedule I by the DEA under emergency scheduling provisions.
May 18-19, 1986		MDMA Conference [Details] Held in Oakland, CA, and sponsored by the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic and the Institute for Addiction Studies, this conference featured James Bakalar, George Greer, Debbie Harlow, Dave Nichols, Phillip Wolfson, and others.
1987		First published report of a human death due to MDMA use. 10
Dec 22, 1987		MDMA is removed from schedule I because of improper procedure in its original emergency scheduling by the DEA. 11
Mar 23, 1988		MDMA permanently placed in Schedule I. 12
Mar 23, 1988		MDMA is placed back into Schedule I without challenge.
1991		Alexander and Ann Shulgin publish PiHKAL, documenting over 250 phenethylamines, including MDMA, mescaline, 2C-B, 2C-T-7, 2C-T-2, and many others. 5
1994-1999		During this 5 year period, there were 27 Ecstasy-related deaths in the U.S. as reported by SAMSA 13
2000 - 2001		Nearly 20 deaths around the world are attributed to tablets containing PMA sold as Ecstasy. 14 [Details] At least 4 deaths during summer 2000 in Denmark due to white Mitsubishi pills. Police confiscate 700 PMA containing tablets. 17 year old girl dies in Norway, after have taken "Mitsubishi" pill, containing PMA. 17 year old man dies in Austria after ingesting PMA tablet. At least 4 people are reported to have died from PMA tablets in Belgium. 3 PMA deaths in Chicago, and 7 in central Florida.
Feb 2, 2001		The State of Ecstasy: The Medicine, Science and Culture of MDMA [Details] [More Info] Held at The Golden Gate Club, Presidio of San Francisco, CA, and produced by the Drug Policy Alliance, at this event Rick Doblin boldly announced MAPS' "Five Years, Five Million Dollars" plan to turn MDMA into a prescription medicine. Other presenters at the conference included Katherine Bonson, Jose Carlos Bouso, John Cloud, George Greer, Charles S. Grob, Steve Heilig, Jessica Malberg, Ethan Nadelmann, David Nichols, Dustianne North, Marcela Ot'alora, George Ricaurte, Marsha Rosenbaum, Emanuel Sferios, Alexander Shulgin, Ann Shulgin, and Sue Stevens. The purpose of this conference was to objectively present what is known about MDMA with respect to its clinical and therapeutic uses, scientific research into potential neurotoxicity, and the culture of ecstasy, including recreational use and raves. The goal of the conference was to formulate pragmatic recommendations for advancing the state of knowledge and health policy about MDMA. Tickets were $125.
Apr 1, 2004		Peter Jennings Reporting: Ecstasy Rising [Details] [More Info] Widely hailed as a less-biased media investigation into MDMA, this ABC Primetime Special Edition featured Peter Jennings exposing the U.S. government's non-scientific anti-drug propaganda, and included coverage of George Ricaurte's article in Science on the "neurotoxicity" of MDMA, which was retracted after it was discovered that the research had mistakenly been conducted using methamphetamine instead of MDMA.

References

Cousto H. Forschung und Praxis der Gesundheitsfoerderung. 2001.
Schmidt-Semisch H. "Ecstasy: Die Droge der 90er-Jahre?" in Hans Gros (ed.). Rausch und Realitaet. Eine Kulturgeschichte der Drogen. Klett, 1998;Vol 3:136-151.
Freundenmann RW, Öxler F, Bernschneider-Reif S. "The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents." Addiction History. 2006.
Hardman HF, et al. "Relationship of the Structure of Mescaline and Seven Analogs to Toxicity and Behavior in Five Species of Laboratory Animals". Toxicol Applied Pharmacology. 1973;25:299-309.
Shulgin AT, Shulgin A. PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. Transform, 1991.
Published in J Crim Law. 1972.
Nichols DE, Shulgin AT. "Sulfur analogs of psychotomimetic amines". J Pharm Sci. Oct 1976;65(10):1554-6.
Eisner B. Ecstasy, the MDMA Story. Ronin, 1994.
Ecstasy: The Complete Guide : A Comprehensive Look at the Risks and Benefits of MDMA, edited by Julie Holland (2001), page 389.
Dowling GP, et al. "'Eve' and 'Ecstasy': A Report of Five Deaths Associated with the Use of MDEA and MDMA". JAMA. 1987;257:1615-7.
US v. Spain, 825 F2d 1426
DEA. Microgram. Apr 1988;Vol XXI(4):59.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
DEA. "The Hallucinogen PMA". Drug Intelligence Brief. Oct 2000.

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