Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is an extremely popular club drug among high school and college students. Because club drugs can increase the pleasure of touch, they are used to increase intimacy and, worse, in rape situations. They are also used to stimulate psychedelic effects and to energize users at night. These synthetic drugs cause the death of more people every year. Club drugs are created to induce a stimulating and psychedelic effect; however, these feelings are definitely not worth the addictive and disabling effects they can cause. MDMA is a chemical component used in many club drugs, but it can also be a drug used exclusively on its own in pure form. Drugs containing this chemical are popular among adolescents and other adolescents or other young adults at nightclubs, parties, or dances (“Club Drugs”). The typical MDMA user is changing, as it has spread from the nightclub community to popularity among the general public. These club drugs are used primarily by young white men, but the number of people using these drugs is expanding ("Recreational use of ecstasy is harmful"). In the early 1900s MDMA was developed in Germany to synthesize other pharmaceutical products. Virtually dormant until 1953, MDMA was studied and used by a former pesticide chemist named Alexander Shulgin. Shulgin was searching for the ideal psychoactive drug, but was frustrated by regulations and required mandatory testing before a drug could be produced; stopped working on this drug because of these restrictions ("History of Ecstasy (MDMA)"). Some psychiatrists began using MDMA in the 1970s as a psychotherapeutic tool, even though the drug had never received formal clinical trials nor was... middle of paper... unable to refuse or defend against sexual assault . . Additionally, drugged individuals may not remember what happened. Although these drugs are often targeted at women, these drugs can also be used on men ("Club Drugs May Be Used to Facilitate Rape"). Works mentioned "Club Drugs". Online collection of opposing points of view. Detroit: Gale, 2013. 2008, Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. May 22, 2014. “Club drugs may be used to facilitate rape.” Club drugs. Ed. Cristina Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. In question. Rpt. from “Rape Drug Fact Sheet.” 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. 22 May 2014.Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. In question. Rpt. from "MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse". 2006. 1-7. Opposing points of view in context. Network. May 22, 2014."History of ecstasy (MDMA)." History of ecstasy. Np, nd Web. May 20 2014.