Is it MDMA Or Not? Find Out With These Kits

The negative impacts of ecstasy have been making big headlines recently, and for good reason – poisonings are on the rise. It is not really much of a surprise, with the quality of ecstasy and molly taking huge hits in recent years. They are now being cut with all sorts of fillers, substitutes and synthetics in order to push up profit margins. For this reason, now more than ever, it is extremely important to test anything you are considering taking. There is no reason not to; it is quick, cheap and easy – plus it could save your life.

WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?

It isn’t just media hype – although they undoubtedly use the news to fuel scaremongering – ecstasy-related poisoning is rising significantly. Ecstasy and molly are both substances that are used for their MDMA content; however, the actual MDMA content of these drugs can be scarce. In recent years, we have seen the purity of ecstasy and molly drop from roughly 70-80% MDMA all the way down to 30%. It is a huge drop and one that is understandably worrying. It has resulted in these extremely popular recreational drugs becoming the mystery meat of the drugs word.

It is worth noting that it is not MDMA that is the problem here; in its pure form, it can be used in a controlled manner for therapeutic application. However, when you buy off the street, more often than not, there is very little MDMA to be seen. Only recently we covered an analysis of ecstasy pill content, with only the Netherlands having any MDMA content that would be seen as expected.

In the most recent study assessing this problem, it was found an alarming amount of ecstasy now contains bath salts – just over 40% in fact. It is worrying because people simply do not realise. They expect the drugs they buy to be pure, or at least, with minimal adulteration. The reality is, it is often the other way around. You end up buying filler with a very small amount of the actual drug you seek.

USING ECSTASY TESTING KITS: TESTING THE PURITY OF YOUR DRUGS

Everyone has to make their own decisions at the end of the day. We all know how telling someone not to take a drug doesn’t work, so education and common sense are vital. If ecstasy regularly features in your weekend, then it is wise to test it before you take it. It isn’t something that requires in-depth knowledge or even a lab to do. You can do it anywhere within minutes using cheap disposable kits.

The way they work is simply. You are supplied a small tube with a reactive liquid in it. All you need to do is crumble up some of your ecstasy, or set aside some of your molly, and pour it into the tube. We are usually talking about 20mg here. You then shake up the tube and wait for the liquid to change colour. The colour it changes to can be compared with the supplied colour reading chart, giving you a good indication of how pure your drugs are. It does mean sacrificing a small amount, but honestly, the sacrifice is worth it when you are potentially risking poisoning. There are two tests widely available, one tells you how pure your ecstasy is, the other tells you what adulterants are in it.

The Dope Or Nope General Drug Test

Using the Dope or Nope drug test, you can quickly and easily identify which substances you're dealing with. Just open the ampoule, pop your sample in, and close it again. Pretty quickly, the solution within should begin to change colour. Using the colour chart provided, you'll be able to identify what drugs are present in your sample. It can even identify concoctions of multiple drugs.

It's not just MDMA that the Dope or Nope can test for, but a range of different drugs:

• Ketamine
• Cocaine
• Ephedrine
• Methylphenidate
• Heroin
• Mescaline
• Methamphetamine
• Amphetamine
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• Oxycodone
• Methadone

What it can't do, on the other hand, is tell you what non-drug substances or contaminants your drugs might be cut with. It can only tell you what drugs are present. So it can't be taken as definitive proof that your drugs are pure. To find out what else is in your drugs, stick to the Ecstasy EZ Test kit. With the Dope or Nope, if there are no drugs present at all, the solution will remain clear. In this case, it's advisable to throw them away. At best they'll do nothing, at worst they'll kill you. A poor range of options!

Remember, ecstasy and molly are not pure substances; trusting that they are is a fool’s game. Stay safe out there. 

Luke Sumpter

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Clinical Health Sciences and a passion for growing plants, Luke Sumpter has worked as a professional journalist and writer at the intersection of cannabis and science for the past 7 years.

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