Summary:
{{Template}}
The terms '''empathogen''' and '''entactogen''' are used to describe a class of [[psychoactive drug]]s that produce distinctive emotional and social effects similar to those of [[MDMA]] (ecstasy). Putative members of this class include [[2C-B]], [[2C-I]], [[MDMA]], [[3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine|MDA]], [[Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine|MDEA]], [[MBDB]], [[2C-T-7]], and [[2C-T-2]], among others. The [[chemical structure]] of many entactogens contains a [[substituted amphetamine]] core, and most belong to the [[phenethylamine]] class of psychoactive drugs, although several (AET and [[alpha-methyltryptamine|AMT]]) are [[tryptamine]]s. When referring to MDMA and its counterparts, the term '[[MDxx]]' is often used with the exception of [[MDPV]]. Entactogens are sometimes incorrectly referred to as major [[hallucinogens]] or [[stimulant]]s, which is often thought to be incorrect although their effects are often somewhat similar.
Euphoria with components of empathy and the like, although subjectively different from that of MDMA, does occur in some other groups of drugs including the opioids, first-generation antihistamines and structurally-related drugs like some of the tricyclic anti-depressants, centrally-acting muscle relaxants of several chemical subclasses, (i.e. cyclobenzaprine, orphenadrine, carisoprodol, methocarbamol and mephenoxalone), and anticholinergics. Some of this knowledge is put to use in the clinical setting, including the elixir known as Brompton Mixture or Brompton Cocktail (viz morphine/heroin/methadone/others + cocaine/dextroamphetamine/methylphenidate + gin/reagent-grade ethanol ± prochlorperazine/diphenhydramine/tincture of cannabis/scopolamine/belladonna + cherry or other flavouring syrup + distilled water), the stated objective is to, amongst other things, to promote sociability of patients who are close to death and/or having intractable pain which engenders extreme distress and fear.
==Etymology==
The term "'''empathogen'''" was coined in 1983 by [[Ralph Metzner]] to denote chemical agents inducing feelings of [[empathy]]. "'''Entactogen'''" was coined by [[David E. Nichols]] as an alternative to "empathogen", attempting to avoid the potential for improper association of the latter with negative connotations related to the Greek root "pathos" (''suffering''); Nichols also thought the word was limiting, and did not cover other therapeutic uses for the drugs that go beyond instilling feelings of empathy. The word "entactogen" is derived from the roots "en" ({{lang-el|within}}), "tactus" ({{lang-la|touch}}) and "gen" (Greek: ''produce'') (Nichols 1986: 308). Neither term is dominant in usage, and, despite their difference in connotation, they are essentially interchangeable, as they refer to precisely the same chemicals.
==Psychological effects==
These drugs appear to produce a different spectrum of psychological effects from major [[stimulants]] such as [[methamphetamine]] and [[amphetamine]] or from major [[psychedelic drug]]s such as [[LSD]] or [[psilocybin]]. As implied by the category names, users of entactogens say the drugs often produce feelings of empathy, love, and emotional closeness to others. However, there have been only very preliminary comparisons of these different drugs in humans in properly-controlled laboratory studies.
==Examples==
The chemicals below have a varying degree of entactogenic effects. Some of the chemicals have a minimal entactogenic effect while others may have a strong entactogenic effect. These substances possess other effects including [[serenic]] effects, [[stimulant]] effects, [[antidepressant]] effects, [[anxiolytic]] effects, and [[psychedelic]] effects.
* [[4-Fluoroamphetamine]] ("Flux")
* [[4-methylthioamphetamine]] (4-MTA; "Flatliners")
* [[5-APB]]
* [[5-APDB]]
* [[5-Methoxy-diisopropyltryptamine]] (5-MeO-DiPT; "Foxy" or "Foxy Methoxy")
* [[6-APB]] ("Benzo Fury")
* [[6-APDB]]
* [[alpha-methyltryptamine]] (αMT)
* [[alpha-ethyltryptamine]] (αET; Monase)
* [[bk-MBDB]] (Butylone)
* [[indanylaminopropane]] (IAP)
* [[methylenedioxyaminoindane]] (MDAI)
* [[methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine]] (MBDB; "Eden")
* [[methylenedioxyamphetamine]] (MDA; "Mellow Drug of America"; "Sassafras")
* [[methylenedioxyethylamphetamine]] (MDEA; "Eve")
* [[methylenedioxymethamphetamine]] (MDMA; "Ecstasy"; "E", "X", "XTC", "Rolls", "Pills", "Adam", "Molly")
* [[mephedrone]] ("Meow", "MCAT", "Molly's little sister", and "Shrimp")
* [[methylone]] ("Explosion", "Ease," and "Bubbles")
* [[methoxymethylamphetamine]] (MMA)
* [[Ethylphenidate]]
{{GFDL}}
The terms '''empathogen''' and '''entactogen''' are used to describe a class of [[psychoactive drug]]s that produce distinctive emotional and social effects similar to those of [[MDMA]] (ecstasy). Putative members of this class include [[2C-B]], [[2C-I]], [[MDMA]], [[3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine|MDA]], [[Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine|MDEA]], [[MBDB]], [[2C-T-7]], and [[2C-T-2]], among others. The [[chemical structure]] of many entactogens contains a [[substituted amphetamine]] core, and most belong to the [[phenethylamine]] class of psychoactive drugs, although several (AET and [[alpha-methyltryptamine|AMT]]) are [[tryptamine]]s. When referring to MDMA and its counterparts, the term '[[MDxx]]' is often used with the exception of [[MDPV]]. Entactogens are sometimes incorrectly referred to as major [[hallucinogens]] or [[stimulant]]s, which is often thought to be incorrect although their effects are often somewhat similar.
Euphoria with components of empathy and the like, although subjectively different from that of MDMA, does occur in some other groups of drugs including the opioids, first-generation antihistamines and structurally-related drugs like some of the tricyclic anti-depressants, centrally-acting muscle relaxants of several chemical subclasses, (i.e. cyclobenzaprine, orphenadrine, carisoprodol, methocarbamol and mephenoxalone), and anticholinergics. Some of this knowledge is put to use in the clinical setting, including the elixir known as Brompton Mixture or Brompton Cocktail (viz morphine/heroin/methadone/others + cocaine/dextroamphetamine/methylphenidate + gin/reagent-grade ethanol ± prochlorperazine/diphenhydramine/tincture of cannabis/scopolamine/belladonna + cherry or other flavouring syrup + distilled water), the stated objective is to, amongst other things, to promote sociability of patients who are close to death and/or having intractable pain which engenders extreme distress and fear.
==Etymology==
The term "'''empathogen'''" was coined in 1983 by [[Ralph Metzner]] to denote chemical agents inducing feelings of [[empathy]]. "'''Entactogen'''" was coined by [[David E. Nichols]] as an alternative to "empathogen", attempting to avoid the potential for improper association of the latter with negative connotations related to the Greek root "pathos" (''suffering''); Nichols also thought the word was limiting, and did not cover other therapeutic uses for the drugs that go beyond instilling feelings of empathy. The word "entactogen" is derived from the roots "en" ({{lang-el|within}}), "tactus" ({{lang-la|touch}}) and "gen" (Greek: ''produce'') (Nichols 1986: 308). Neither term is dominant in usage, and, despite their difference in connotation, they are essentially interchangeable, as they refer to precisely the same chemicals.
==Psychological effects==
These drugs appear to produce a different spectrum of psychological effects from major [[stimulants]] such as [[methamphetamine]] and [[amphetamine]] or from major [[psychedelic drug]]s such as [[LSD]] or [[psilocybin]]. As implied by the category names, users of entactogens say the drugs often produce feelings of empathy, love, and emotional closeness to others. However, there have been only very preliminary comparisons of these different drugs in humans in properly-controlled laboratory studies.
==Examples==
The chemicals below have a varying degree of entactogenic effects. Some of the chemicals have a minimal entactogenic effect while others may have a strong entactogenic effect. These substances possess other effects including [[serenic]] effects, [[stimulant]] effects, [[antidepressant]] effects, [[anxiolytic]] effects, and [[psychedelic]] effects.
* [[4-Fluoroamphetamine]] ("Flux")
* [[4-methylthioamphetamine]] (4-MTA; "Flatliners")
* [[5-APB]]
* [[5-APDB]]
* [[5-Methoxy-diisopropyltryptamine]] (5-MeO-DiPT; "Foxy" or "Foxy Methoxy")
* [[6-APB]] ("Benzo Fury")
* [[6-APDB]]
* [[alpha-methyltryptamine]] (αMT)
* [[alpha-ethyltryptamine]] (αET; Monase)
* [[bk-MBDB]] (Butylone)
* [[indanylaminopropane]] (IAP)
* [[methylenedioxyaminoindane]] (MDAI)
* [[methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine]] (MBDB; "Eden")
* [[methylenedioxyamphetamine]] (MDA; "Mellow Drug of America"; "Sassafras")
* [[methylenedioxyethylamphetamine]] (MDEA; "Eve")
* [[methylenedioxymethamphetamine]] (MDMA; "Ecstasy"; "E", "X", "XTC", "Rolls", "Pills", "Adam", "Molly")
* [[mephedrone]] ("Meow", "MCAT", "Molly's little sister", and "Shrimp")
* [[methylone]] ("Explosion", "Ease," and "Bubbles")
* [[methoxymethylamphetamine]] (MMA)
* [[Ethylphenidate]]
{{GFDL}}