Ekstaza

Ekstaza is a term used in several Slavic languages meaning "ecstasy." It can denote an intense emotional or mystical state of rapture in which a person feels removed from ordinary awareness, and it is also commonly used as the vernacular name for the psychoactive substance MDMA and its street forms.

Etymology traces to the Greek ekstasis, literally "standing outside oneself," historically applied to religious trance and ecstatic states. In psychological and literary contexts, ekstaza describes experiences of profound joy, transcendence, or altered consciousness.

As a drug, MDMA (often called ecstasy or ekstaza) is classified pharmacologically as an entactogen and stimulant that primarily increases serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine activity. Acute effects reported include euphoria, increased empathy and sociability, altered perception, and heightened sensory experiences. Potential harms include dehydration, hyperthermia, serotonin-related complications, cardiovascular strain, and risks from adulterants in unregulated products. Long-term effects and dependence potential remain subjects of ongoing study.

Legal status varies by country; in many jurisdictions MDMA is a controlled substance, though clinical research into MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (notably for treatment-resistant PTSD) has progressed under regulated protocols. The word ekstaza also appears across arts and popular culture as a title or theme in music, film, and literature, invoking both the affective state and the contemporary drug context.