Ecstasy on your mind?

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) widely known as ecstasy or Molly is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is similar to both the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Ecstasy can cause someone to feel an increase in energy, have a sense of euphoria, feel emotional warmth and understanding toward others, increases heart rate, and misrepresentations sensory and time perception. When ecstasy started to become popular is was commonly abused by Caucasian adolescents, in today’s day and age ecstasy is abused throughout all different ethnicities.  Abusers often use ecstasy to amplify the excitement of being at a nightclub, concert, or a rave. Abusers tend to use to get the “full experience”, because of the effects that ecstasy creates. Ecstasy is taken in a tablet form or in the case of Molly (the purist form of MDMA) is taken in a capsule form. Ecstasy only lasts about 3 to 6 hours so it is not common for abusers to take a second dose when they can the drug wearing off. Ecstasy is commonly mixed with other drugs to create a better “high”.  Ecstasy’s withdrawal symptoms are mild such as lack of energy, anxiety and sleep disturbance. Withdrawal becomes a major issue when ecstasy use is heavy. With heavy use the abusers withdrawal can range from: extreme paranoia, panic attacks, dysfunctional perception, and sometime suicidal thoughts.  Because adolescents and young adults are the most common users the effects may cause a higher issue.  Adolescents and young adults are more vulnerable to ecstasy because their central nervous system is not fully developed and their brain is still immature to the effects of ecstasy. So is ecstasy ever a good idea? I do not think so. 

Fogger, Susanne A,D.N.P., C.R.N.P. (2011). Update on ecstasy. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 49(4), 16-18. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20110302-03

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