Welcome to this week’s edition of The Guide ⚡️ 

Today’s newsletter takes about 5 minutes to read—so if you’ve only got 60 seconds, here’s what you need to know:

• “MDMA” or “Molly” ≠ guaranteed. Dose and purity vary in products and impurities are (far) more common than we’ve been led to believe…

• Test smart. It’s best to use reagent kits for quick screening, but know that true lab testing is the gold standard for knowing what’s actually in your product…

• Know the key MDMA risks. Heat illness + hyponatremia is a real thing! So pace your dosing, keep cool, and sip electrolytes (don’t chug water)…

• Clinical studies are promising. Clinical trials show MDMA-assisted therapy can reduce notably PTSD symptoms under strict monitoring… But the FDA has yet to change their stance on it, so beware..

• This week’s podcast episode… Features world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein on MDMA, empathy’s “Goldilocks zone,” and his new book “Why Brains Need Friends.”

🤞 Knowledge is useless without application, so put this information to use and use safe practices if you choose to participate!

Let’s dive into it…

🧠 The Webdelics Team

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🎧️ The Webdelics Podcast

🎙️ In this week’s episode, Scott Mason talks with Ben Rein Ph.D., a world-renowned Stanford researcher and coveted Webdelics board member, to discuss the science and promise of MDMA in treating an array of conditions and mental health disorders.

They explore how MDMA enhances empathy, reshapes traumatic memories, and shows real potential for treating PTSD.

🚨 Dr. Rein also dives into the ethical concerns, future applications, and the delicate balance of empathy in human connection.

And if you can’t get enough of Ben after listening to this episode…

📚️ Ben’s new book, Why Brains Need Friends, just launched last week and already has raving reviews from NY Times best selling authors like Nir Eyal, David Eagleman Ph.D., Lisa Genova Ph.D., Barry O’Reilly, and many more!

⚡️ This is one you REALLY won’t want to miss…

📜 The “Must Read” For The Week

Know Your MDMA - Why Drug Testing Matters

Recreational (and even therapeutic) MDMA use carries real risks, especially because you can’t easily know the dose, purity, or true contents by just looking at the product in hand.

While MDMA use has rebounded since the mid-1990s, variability remains the rule, not the exception…

And testing is a practical harm-reduction step… But very few, if any, actually take the harm-reduction steps to know exactly what they’re getting into.

Testing MDMA samples or substances sold as MDMA (such as “ecstasy” pills or “Molly”) is crucial for harm reduction and ensuring safer use…

🧪 Quick vs. Definitive Testing

Reagent Kits (at-home) 🧫 

Color-change tests (e.g., Marquis, Simon’s, Froehde) can quickly suggest if MDMA is present and sometimes flag non-MDMA substances.

DanceSafe provides step-by-step instructions, color charts, and often bundles fentanyl test strips with kits.

👉️ Note: Reagents are presumptive, which means that they can miss adulterants and don’t tell you potency…

Laboratory Testing (The Gold Standard) 🔬 

Lab testing is the most accurate method for identifying the composition of a sample and is the only way to confirm its contents definitively. This method provides more accurate and detailed results compared to reagent testing kits.

In the U.S., mail-in services like DrugsData publish verified lab results; internationally, Energy Control (Spain) offers anonymous qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Overall, lab testing provides the clearest picture, especially when multiple substances are present…

But if you never test, you never know, right?

⚡️ Why Testing Helps…

“Ecstasy/Molly” is a brand, not a guarantee.

Tragically, numerous individuals have suffered severe injuries, hospitalizations, or even fatalities after consuming substances they believed to be MDMA but turned out to be something else entirely…

Pills and powders sold as MDMA commonly have additional contained stimulants, synthetic cathinones, ketamine, and more, each with different effects and potential risks.

At the end of the day, confirming MDMA purity and spotting adulterants helps people make safer decisions.

🚨 Risks to Keep On Your Radar…

Even with pure MDMA, dosing, timing, and intentional safe practices matter…

The medical literature links MDMA use to hyperthermia/heat illness and hyponatremia (dangerously low sodium), especially in hot, high-activity settings with over-hydration.

🧊 If you choose to consume, it’s suggested to start low, pace yourself, take cool-down breaks, and sip (not chug) fluids with electrolytes to maintain hydration.

Furthermore, it’s always best to do so with someone who can “trip sit” and be the sober decision maker on whether or not someone needs to seek proper medical attention…

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💬 Our Why…

We know we can’t control the headlines or the hype of this industry, but we can bring curiosity, care, and community together to help people make the best decisions for their mental health and overall wellness.

This week’s theme is essential for the industry and individual users to consider:

💌 Knowledge is harm reduction.

Whether you’re listening to Dr. Ben Rein Ph.D. break down MDMA’s empathy effects or skimming our Beginner’s Guide to Psilocybin, the goal is the same…

Webdelics is here to provide you clear and concise information, safer choices, and evidence-based education.

📩 If this newsletter helped you learn something new, share it with a friend who could use it too…,

And if you have questions or topics you want us to tackle in future newsletters, reply to us. We’re listening!

Stay curious…

🧠 The Guide - by Webdelics

Disclaimer: Webdelics does not support or promote any illegal activities, including the use of substances that may be mentioned in this newsletter. We encourage all readers to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the laws in their region. Please note that Webdelics does not offer mental health, medical, or clinical services and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric care, diagnosis, or treatment.