Rediscovering MDMA (ecstasy): the role of the American chemist Alexander T. Shulgin

Abstract

Shulgin was not the first to synthesize MDMA, but he played an important role in its history. It seems plausible that he was so impressed by its effects that he introduced it to psychotherapist Zeff in 1977. This, and the fact that in 1978 he published with David Nichols the first paper on the pharmacological action of MDMA in humans, explains why Shulgin is sometimes (erroneously) called the 'father' of MDMA.

Amphetamine-related drugs neurotoxicity in humans and in experimental animals: Main mechanisms

“…The next phase of research on MDMA began with the studies and work by Alexander Shulgin. According to his autobiography and interviews, in 1977 Shulgin introduced MDMA to Leo Zeff, a retired psychologist from Oakland (CA, USA), who was so impressed by the effects of MDMA that he decided to come out of retirement, and began to introduce MDMA to other psychotherapists across the USA (Benzenhöfer and Passie, 2010). The appeal of MDMA that has led to its use in psychotherapy is chiefly due to the particular profile of Page 11 of 82 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 10 action of this substance, which includes amphetamine-like stimulant effects together with feelings of increased emotional sensitivity and closeness to other individuals (Kirkpatrick et al, 2014).…”

New psychoactive substances: reducing the harm caused by untested drugs and an unregulated market

“…MDMA remained relatively unused and out of the public eye until 1978, when the first reports of its psychopharmacological effects in humans were published in the United States (Benzenhöefer and Passie, 2010).…”

Getting up to speed with the public health and regulatory challenges posed by new psychoactive substances in the information age

“…The appearance of new drugs is not a new phenomenon [23][24][25][26], yet in the past few years we have seen an unprecedented growth in their number, type and availability [1,5,27]. The scientific and patent literature, along with the ingenuity of chemists involved in the trade in new drugs, means that thousands more are possible [28].…”