Ecstasy or MDMA is a stimulant drug that is chemically related to mescaline and amphetamine and is used for its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Ecstasy was previously used in psychotherapy but in 1985 it was declared illegal in the United States. During the 1990s the widespread use of ecstasy increased as a recreational drug, resulting in increasing reports of an apparent association between ecstasy use and a diverse range of psychological symptoms and psychiatric disorders. MDMA is often used at parties because it enables partygoers to remain active for long periods of time. Ecstasy is often called the “hug drug” because users experience a high that produces “good will” toward others and will cause the user to become more confident and willing to come out of their “shell.”
The term ecstasy has now widened its meaning to include not only MDMA, but also a class of drugs which includes MBDB, MDE, MDA, MDEA and 2CB, among others. Like other powerful mind-altering drugs, the use of ecstasy creates impaired mental health and impaired judgment. While under the influence of the drug, users may sometimes experience confusion, disorientation, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, depersonalization, derealisation, perceptual disorders, hallucinations, paranoia and psychotic incidents. It is possible that some of these adverse effects may continue for a period after cessation of the drug. It was also reported that large doses of MDMA repeatedly injected into laboratory animals lowered the levels of serotonin and dopamine, which is a chemical messenger in the brain, and also damaged the nerve endings where serotonin was released. The relevance of these studies to humans taking one or two ecstasy tablets occasionally has been questioned, but the animal studies do suggest that persons taking large quantities of ecstasy for several days may be at some risk of persistently low serotonin. Low serotonin has been linked to depression and anxiety, and it has been suggested that users of ecstasy could be at risk of developing psychological problems of this nature.
Another concern associated with using ecstasy is the possibility of poisoning from chemicals other than MDMA used while manufacturing the ecstasy tablets. Because ecstasy is illegal almost world-wide, the purity of the substance is unknown to the user. The MDMA content of tablets will vary widely between regions. Sometimes what is being sold as ecstasy may, in reality, have other substances mixed in that has similar effects as MDMA such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, or caffeine. These substances may cost less to produce than ecstasy, which can help increase the seller’s overall profit. In some cases, tablets sold as ecstasy do not even contain MDMA. Instead the pills may contain an assortment of undesirable drugs such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, PMA, etc. There have been a number of deaths attributed to PMA, which is a potent and highly neurotoxic hallucinogenic amphetamine. PMA is unique in its ability to quickly elevate body temperature and heart rate at relatively low doses, especially in comparison to MDMA. Consequently, a user who believes he is consuming two 120 mg pills of MDMA could actually be consuming a dose of PMA that is potentially lethal, depending on the purity of the pill.
Under a UN agreement MDMA is illegal in every country in the world and its possession, manufacture, or sale may result in criminal prosecution. Use of MDMA is limited to licensed scientific and medical research. MDMA is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)****
In 2006, an estimated 528,000 people (0.2 percent of the population) in the United States age 12 or older used MDMA in the month prior to being surveyed. Lifetime use increased among individuals aged 12 years or older, from 4.3 percent in 2002 to 5.0 percent in 2006; however, past-year use of ecstasy decreased from 1.3 percent to 0.9 percent during the same 5-year period. Approximately 860,000 Americans used ecstasy for the first time in 2006, which is a significant increase from the 615,000 first-time users reported in 2005. Most (70.1 percent) of these new users were 18 or older; and among past-year initiates aged 12 to 49, the average age at initiation in 2006 was 20.6 years.
The staff at Narconon Gulf Coast has helped countless number of people kick their ecstasy addiction, even those who have been to other centers and, for whatever reason, have been unsuccessful. Narconon Gulf Coast has, for years, been helping good people find lasting recovery, and we can help you. Stop the lies and take control of your like. Make that all important first step and call us now at 800-253-3168
