The drug’s rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose taken, purity of the MDMA, and the environment in which it is taken. Molly is slang for ‘molecular’ and refers to the crystalline powder form of this drug. Ecstasy users take the drug orally as a tablet, pill, or capsule. Ecstasy use causes a feeling of euphoria, and that is the major reason why people take ecstasy. MDMA use has also been linked to heightened sensory perception. Below are the effects of ecstasy on physical health, behavior, psychology, and social life.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration
If you have taken enough ecstasy or have combined ecstasy with other drugs to end up in the emergency department, chances are that you need drug detox services before considering treatment. Usually available on an inpatient basis, detox lasts a few days, sometimes longer. Since MDMA use so often takes place alongside the use of other addictive drugs, differentiating the source of attention required! cloudflare a person’s symptoms is a professional necessity. If you notice any potential symptoms of overdose, call 911 immediately. You can also administer naloxone if you have it available since this will temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, potentially saving a life if the ecstasy was laced with opioids. Many people have issues with depression as they “come down” from ecstasy use.
Serotonin Syndrome
Ecstasy causes unnaturally high releases of all three of these chemicals, so you feel increased pleasure, energy, and happiness without the natural triggers to which your body normally responds. alcohol use disorder and timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms Additionally, if those triggers are present, then you may experience a greater-than-normal reaction to them. While that sounds nice, it does have an unnatural impact on your brain and body.
Ecstasy Symptoms and Warning Signs
- Unlike other recreational drugs such as cocaine and nicotine, which are derived from plants, MDMA or ecstasy is synthesized by altering the structure of the amphetamine molecule.
- For some, these detrimental impacts can be felt even weeks after the drug has left the body.
- In part because ecstasy is often taken at raves or night clubs, the user runs a high risk of becoming dehydrated or overheating—eventually causing their organs to stop functioning if left untreated.
- Impaired judgment may lead to overdose as well, particularly when ecstasy is combined with other substances like alcohol or opioids.
- It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, including ecstasy as you could lose your licence for a set time or be fined.
Abusers may also use in conjunction with other psychoactive drugs like LSD. As with many other “party drugs”, ecstasy is rarely used alone and it is frequently combined with alcohol and marijuana. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.
Is There Treatment for Ecstasy Addiction?
MDMA users often start by dabbing just a small amount of powder and waiting for the effects to kick in. Just as with any other substance, watch for behaviors that are different and unusual as well as physical changes. When these signs are ongoing, it is a good indication that addiction is involved. When an individual consumes ecstasy, they don’t know which of these side effects they will get. In addition, since there are often additives put into this drug as well as many others, one experience with ecstasy may vary from the next. The use of MDMA can impact the nervous system with inhibition-reducing behaviors and immediate feelings of alertness, hyperactivity, and friendliness.
It was first made by German scientists in 1912, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became widely available on the streets. It can be used by people to increase a feeling of alertness 12 things that happen when you quit drinking and experience longer periods of happiness and may also enhance emotional and sexual relationships. Even small doses of ecstasy can harm your mental, physical, or emotional well-being.
MDMA’s effects may include feeling more energetic and alert and having an increased sense of well-being, warmth, and openness toward others. Ecstasy produces serious side effects when it is taken in excess. Users may take 1–2 (sometimes more) tablets at once or a series of them over a short period. The effect of ecstasy may begin around 45 minutes after taking the drug.
Concerns are especially high for those who are still in middle or high school as their brains are not fully developed. A 2022 survey showed that 0.6% of eighth graders (13 years old) said they used ecstasy in the last year. Ecstasy is most popular among younger males, ranging from 18 to 25 years old. In a 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was shown that of those 12 years of age and older, almost 2.2 million people used ecstasy in the last 12 months. Ecstasy tablets are often marked with a symbol, number, or word.
Ecstasy tablets have been shown to have other drugs included, such as cocaine, ephedrine, meth, caffeine, and over-the-counter cough medicine. The unknown formulation that can be present in ecstasy can make taking these pills extra risky and dangerous, especially when someone has also been drinking. MDMA causes increases in mood, energy, and pleasure and can distort someone’s sense of time and place. Because of these effects, the drug is primarily abused by people looking to feel good or have a good time, often in a party scene.
Recent research has shown that brain damage can occur due to the use of ecstasy, even after only brief exposure. A few symptoms caused by this damage include increased anxiety, depression, and confusion. Furthermore, it can also cause memory issues, issues with cognitive ability, and poor performance on tests. Long term effects can amplify these symptoms resulting in severe brain damage. The popularity of ecstasy abuse is also reflected in the number of emergency room visits by people who have taken this drug.
While ecstasy tends to increase your perception of sensations, it doesn’t actually heighten your overall awareness and ability to respond. In fact, in the hours after taking the drug, these functions in your body can actually suffer, and you may not be able to perceive and respond to motion as well as you normally are. This can make operating machinery, such as driving a car, very dangerous and even add risk to everyday physical activity, such as walking or running.
Therapy is very important, especially when coming off of ecstasy, as depression and anxiety are common post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches recovering addicts to find connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and increase awareness of how these things impact recovery. Lifestyle changes are also very important in regards to next steps as it is important to make drastic changes to reduce the chance of relapse. The drug often comes in the form of ecstasy tablets or pills but can also be swallowed as a liquid or snorted in powder form. Molly (which is short for molecular) is the purest form of the crystalline powder MDMA.
Signs of addiction include an overwhelming focus on obtaining ecstasy and inability to quit. Dangers include heart problems, cognitive deficits, and heightened accident risks. In addition, inpatient treatment at an addiction treatment center has also been helpful in overcoming MDMA addiction.
Taking MDMA with alcohol can increase your risk of dehydration. People who already have mental health problems or a history of mental illness should not take MDMA. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Ecstasy overdose is possible, particularly if the tablets or pills were cut with an opioid, like fentanyl.
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