E is for Ecstasy by Nicholas Saunders

Appendix 1: Reference Section

113 Drugs Arena, National Criminal Intelligence Service, 1990

Seizures of tablets included fake MDMA consisting of prescription mianserin tablets, rubbed down to remove markings and to give them an 'illicit' appearance. Most Ecstasy is believed to originate in the USA or Holland, but there is some evidence to suggest UK manufacture.

Illicit synthesis of MDMA is usually achieved by reductive amination of 3,4 methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone which can be obtained from commercial sources. During MDMA synthesis, deliberate or mistaken substitution of the butanone for the propanone, followed by reductive amination, results in the formation of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-3-butanamine (HMDMA). HMDMA does not have the phenethylamine moiety necessary to make it a controlled drug under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).

None of the seizures of "Ecstasy" contained poisonous or addictive substances.