MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly, is a psychoactive drug that acts as a stimulant and is not approved for legal use because of its history as a recreational drug with the potential for harm, abuse, and addiction. However, since 2017, the FDA has deemed the drug’s beneficial effects on PTSD symptoms to be “breakthrough therapy” . MDMA-assisted therapy is being used as part of therapy for severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that affects nearly 3.5% of U.S. adults. MDMA-assisted therapy uses regulated doses of MDMA alongside psychotherapy sessions to help treat certain psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. MDMA causes the release of neurotransmitters, chemical messengers to brain cells that change brain activity, including “feel-good” hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, as well as oxytocin, prolactin, cortisol, and vasopressin. The effects of MDMA can include feelings of empathy, self-awareness, sensory pleasure, more energy, less anxiety, and the ability to open up about emotions. It is important to note that MDMA-assisted therapy should not be confused with recreational ecstasy, as street drugs don’t have the same therapeutic effects, and you may not know their exact dose and purity.