What is Ecstasy?

Ecstasy or MDMA is a highly potent psychoactive drug which was first produced in 1912; it was used to enhance psychotherapy till the 1970s, and then its use as a street drug became prominent in the late 1990s. Ecstasy is an illegal synthetic drug which works as a stimulant with hallucinogenic effects. It’s tonic functions will escalate energy levels while hallucinogens effects cause a surreal sense or feeling. MDMA is widely linked with raves, dance parties, and electronic dance music and it is consumed in different forms including capsules, pills or tablets. In 2011, 6 million people admitted that they had used ecstasy at least once in their lifetime. Ecstasy is often used by young and middle-aged people due to low cost and easy availability. A recent study indicated that almost 40% of high school seniors reported that the drug is “very easy” to buy.

What are the signs & symptoms?

At times, it could be very tricky to identify the signs and determine whether one is addicted to ecstasy or not. Among other indications, one of the signs is when a young person comes back home after all night party and still appears energetic but nervous at the same time. It is worthy to mention that abuse of ecstasy has dismal effects on mental health and it has the capacity of changing the brain in quick successions. Most prominent signs & symptoms associated with ecstasy use include:

• Irregular sleeping habits
• Lack of pain awareness
• Arousal of excessive feelings of sexual attraction towards partner
• Usage despite knowledge of harmful consequences
• Loss of judgement
• Increased or high levels of energy
• Prolonged dancing sessions
• Sweating, nausea and blurred vision
• Cold or warm flashes
• Collapsing or even death in worst cases
• Clenched jaw and dilated pupils
• Excessive Thirst
• Lethargy
• Hesitation in facing family or meeting people
• Secretive behavior and financial difficulties

What are the effects?

Ecstasy is capable of manipulating the chemical balance in the brain and often initiates several adverse effects. MDMA use generates an excess of serotonin in the mind that controls and enhances various joyful effects. Due to this serotonin factor, when one begins to stop using ecstasy, he or she will find it difficult to attain the same level of happiness under normal levels of serotonin in the brain. This situation causes:

• Short memory loss and insomnia
• Needless worry and confusion
• More desire of drug, mental depression and faintness

Treatment

Because ecstasy poses a serious risk to mental health.  Detoxification  and stabilization are highly recommended to overcome the physical and psychological symptoms of MDMA withdrawal,  After detox, recovery from ecstasy addiction is usually followed by outpatient treatment. Ecstasy addiction is difficult to overcome, but with the right treatment plan in place, a life of freedom and joy can be recovered.