Entactogen is a descriptive name applied to psychoactive drugs with effects similar to those of MDMA. The term was coined by David E. Nichols as an alternative to "empathogen", owing to the potential for improper association of the latter with negative concepts related to the Greek root "pathos" (suffering). The word "entactogen" is derived from the roots "en" (Greek: within), "tactus" (Latin: touch) and "gen" (Greek: produce).

See also

• empathogen
• entheogen

External links

• Nichols 1986: Abstract and full text online
• The Great Entactogen - Empathogen Debate from MAPS newsletter

References

• Nichols, D.E., Hoffman, A.J., Oberlender, R.A., Jacob P 3rd & Shulgin A.T. Derivatives of 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine: representatives of a novel therapeutic class 1986 J Med Chem 29 2009-15

• Nichols, D.E. Differences between the mechanism of action of MDMA, MBDB, and the classic hallucinogens. Identification of a new therapeutic class: entactogens 1986 J Psychoactive Drugs 18 305-13