Alexander Shulgin facts for kids

Alexander Shulgin in March 2011.

Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American medicinal chemist, biochemist, pharmacologist, psychopharmacologist, and writer. He is best known for introducing MDMA (an ingredient of "ecstasy") to psychologists in the late 1970s for psychopharmaceutical use.

Shulgin was born in Berkeley, California. He was of Russian origin. His son, Theodore, died from cancer on May 15, 2011. Before he died, he was living on a farm in Lafayette, California.

Shulgin died after a long battle with liver cancer in his home in Lafayette, California on June 2, 2014, aged 88. He was outlived by his wife, Ann Shulgin.

Images for kids

• 

  Zectran-containing pesticide manufactured by Dow; photo taken at the Farm on July 26, 2009.

• 

  Shulgin at the home-based lab on his property, known as "the Farm", 2009