ecstasy-addiction-recovery

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, shortened to MDMA and commonly known as ecstasy, is a synthetic psychoactive drug. Chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens, ecstasy alters perception and mood and produces heightened feelings of euphoria and empathy. It also causes the user to experience surges in energy and sexual arousal, as well as psychedelic effects similar to LSD.

Ecstasy is primarily used as a recreational drug. Nowadays it’s used by a wide range of people but remains quite popular among those who like to attend raves (all-night dance parties), music festivals and nightclubs.

Ecstasy increases the activity of the brain chemicals dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Altering these chemicals in the brain causes the elevated mood and heightened emotional feelings felt by the user. It also effects several functions, including sleep and appetite and increases heart rate and blood pressure.

The most common forms of ecstasy are pills, capsules, and tablets. The pills can come in a variety of colors and can have cartoons, words, or symbols engraved on them. People typically swallow and ingest ecstasy in its capsule or pill form. It can also be broken down into a powder and snorted or swallowed in liquid form.

Another form of MDMA that has grown in popularity is a drug known as Molly. Slang for “molecular,” Molly is a supposedly “pure” crystalline powder form of MDMA that typically comes in capsules. However, this hardly seems to be the case and usually contains other ingredients or is a completely different drug, such as bath salts.

Since ecstasy alters the activity of chemicals in the brain, it can cause negative after-effects to the user’s mental state. The chemical serotonin contributes to an individual’s mood, aggression, sexual activity and sleep, among other things. While on ecstasy, the extra serotonin that is released causes the increased elation in mood. After the drug wears off, the brain no longer has enough serotonin due to the surge that was triggered from the ecstasy.

Having a reduced amount of serotonin in the brain can cause users to experience depression, anxiety, confusion, drug cravings, lack of interest in sex, decrease in appetite and issues sleeping. Using ecstasy one time can cause the user to experience these side effects several days or weeks after use. For heavy users of MDMA, these problems can last much longer.

High doses of ecstasy can also effect the body’s ability to regulate temperature, which can lead to a spike in body temperature. The body experiencing a dramatic change of temperature could potentially cause failure of the heart, liver, or kidney, or even result in death