Long-term use poses risks of mood disorders such as depression, cognitive impairments including memory deficits, and sleep disturbances. MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, is a synthetic psychoactive drug that acts as both a stimulant and hallucinogen. It produces feelings of euphoria, emotional warmth, and heightened energy by increasing levels of key neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain. Ecstasy affects the body by increasing serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, inducing feelings of euphoria, increased energy, and emotional warmth. It also raises body temperature and heart rate, leading to dehydration and potential organ damage.
Ecstasy Overdose
- Someone who is feverish, dehydrated, and has a fast heart rate cannot be allowed to “sleep it off”.
- Addiction medicine specialists are physicians with expertise in addiction treatment and may provide comprehensive care, including detoxification and ongoing management of addiction-related issues.
- With a supportive environment and evidence-based practices, we guide individuals toward lasting recovery and improved well-being.
- This type of intervention helps change how people think and behave to support addiction recovery.
This classification means that the substance has a high potential for abuse and is not approved by law to treat medical conditions. However, in some cases, you may continue to feel the side effects of ecstasy or “molly” the day after you take it. The symptoms may even persist for up to a week or more, especially if MDMA is mixed with other drugs such as marijuana.
The substance then began illegally circulating for recreational use. MDMA can also be addictive, and research suggests that long-term thinking problems may develop in some people who use it. Molly was made illegal in the United States in 1985 when it was classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule I drug according to the Controlled Substances Act. While MDMA or ecstasy was initially used primarily in nightclubs and raves, its use has now spread to a wider range of populations. According to a 2021 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 0.8% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 reported using this drug in the previous 12 months.
Ecstasy or MDMA can affect the brain and the body in different ways. In the brain, it boosts the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Therefore, effects and risks of ecstasy it gives the feeling of a “rush” – a high or euphoria. However, prolonged use can also affect mood and cognition given its adverse impacts on serotonin and dopamine systems.
Psychological Addiction
- Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.
- Ingesting other substances, such as cannabis or cocaine, along with MDMA greatly increases the danger of adverse reactions.
- Additionally, it is worth noting that MDMA targets the same brain chemicals as other drugs that are deemed highly addictive.
- It can also lead to risks such as dehydration, hyperthermia, and long-term neurological damage.
In one study, researchers found that only 60% of samples contained any MDMA at all and many were mixed with so-called “fake cocaine,” a substance typically made with synthetic cathinone. In nearly 25% of the samples, the researchers were unable to identify what was actually in the tablets. Ongoing clinical trials also suggest that ecstasy may help treat chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MDMA, also known as ecstasy or “molly,” is a synthetic drug known primarily for its hallucinogenic and stimulant effects.
In 2020, over 2.6 million people in the U.S. reported using MDMA, with emergency room visits related to its use increasing by 128% since 2005. Cadabams offers comprehensive care for ecstasy addiction, providing personalised Ecstasy addiction treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Our multidisciplinary team of addiction specialists offers therapy, counselling, medication-assisted treatment, and holistic approaches to address all aspects of addiction. With a supportive environment and evidence-based practices, we guide individuals toward lasting recovery and improved well-being.
This suggests MDMA has the potential for addiction, although researchers have not yet confirmed this. MDMA works by increasing the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These are the brain’s neurotransmitters, which influence mood, sleep, and appetite. A person taking the drug will feel the effect within 1 hour, and it can last up to 6 hours.
MDMA Addiction, Overdose, and Withdrawal
Troubling new research about ecstasy indicates that it might cause long-lasting serotonin toxicity. A small study of young women compared groups who did and did not use ecstasy. Brain imaging studies of the young women who used ecstasy showed harmful changes in serotonin receptors. This confirmed previous animal studies, in which animals given the drug developed toxic effects in the brain that lasted at least for several years. The often-added impurities, in combination with the physical rigor of an all-night dance party experience, make taking any form of MDMA significantly dangerous.
MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy pills, is a powerful synthetic drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic. It produces an intense high by flooding the brain with serotonin – the neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep and appetite. This involves individual psychotherapy, group sessions, and ongoing care and support. Behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and holistic therapies like Mindfulness Therapy will help in healing, balance, and healthy coping strategies to help with relapse prevention. Moreover, it will also involve addressing any co-occurring disorders like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or mood disorders, among others. On the other hand, research has also shown that many ecstasy users do not report high levels of craving for the drug.
Mental and Emotional Risks
It is typically sold illicitly as colorful tablets with imprinted logos, capsules, powder, or liquid. Some researchers and organizations consider MDMA to be a psychedelic drug because it can also mildly alter visual and time perception. MDMA’s effects may include feeling more energetic and alert and having an increased sense of well-being, warmth, and openness toward others. There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat ecstasy addiction. Twelve-step recovery programs and support groups may be helpful, particularly when used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral interventions.
General Health
Ecstasy keeps you from feeling any physical pain, so you may not realize it if you injure yourself while high. Ecstasy has several effects during the hours it’s active in your system. Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people are more likely to have used ecstasy within the last 30 days.
Some people who take ecstasy suck on lollipops or pacifiers to prevent this. It typically takes minutes before the effects of ecstasy are felt. JECFA’s risk assessments determine the probability of a specific type of harm, i.e. cancer, to occur under certain conditions and levels of exposure. It is not unusual for JECFA to factor IARC classifications into its deliberations.
Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs
When talking to the dispatcher, try to not use terms such as “drugs” or “overdose.” Instead, tell them the symptoms that you can see are happening, such as seizures and not breathing. Give the dispatcher your exact location so the ambulance can get to you as quickly as possible. In addition to the high you get from ecstasy, the drug also causes many unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects that affect your mind and your body. As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts. The effects of ecstasy typically last about four to six hours, though they can continue for weeks. This involves taking several doses of ecstasy spread out over a short time.
