Author: James Anderson
Ecstasy MDMA or Molly: Uses, Effects, Risks
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Ecstasy powder looks like white/grey crystals and is called MDMA, mandy or MD. Ecstasy pills can be white, coloured, round, square or pressed into any shape. Some pills have designs stamped into them, like well known company logos that the pills are then named after. Do your research, educate yourself, and reach out to local or virtual organizations that can provide support with addiction.
- For example, a tablet might have the word “sky” written on it, relating to the type of “high” you will experience.
- Along with these mental and physical effects of ecstasy, the drug also causes changes in how you see the world, such as not knowing what time it is or seeing things that are not there.
- If you are facing a medical emergency or considering suicide or self harm, please call 911 immediately.
- Ecstasy pills are usually swallowed, although some people crush them up and snort them.The amount of MDMA in ecstasy pills varies massively.
- When ecstasy use is followed by vigorous physical activity, it can lead to a potentially dangerous rise in body temperature known as hyperthermia.
When taken regularly and in higher doses, it can cause long-term effects, which can last for long periods even after the user has stopped taking the drug. Long-term negative effects of the drug include anxiety, depression, and insomnia. There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat ecstasy addiction. Twelve-step recovery programs and support groups can also be helpful, particularly when used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral interventions. Ongoing clinical trials suggest that ecstasy is a promising treatment for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you’re going to take ecstasy, try to take it in mini doses.
This can cause heart, liver, or kidney failure or even death. When you take ecstasy, the drug increases the way your brain chemicals work. Ecstasy should not be taken with other substances like alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana due to its raised risk of health effects. It was first made by German scientists in 1912, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became widely available on the streets. It can be used by people to increase a feeling of alertness and experience longer periods of happiness and may also enhance emotional and sexual relationships.
How Does Ecstasy Affect the Brain?
If you choose to take ecstasy, use it with as much precaution as possible. Educate yourself and your friends about the safety tips for ecstasy use to reduce unwanted health problems. At best, have at least one person who is going to be ecstasy-free during the session. Concerns are especially high for those who are still in middle or high school as their brains are not fully developed. A 2022 survey showed that 0.6% of eighth graders (13 years old) said they used ecstasy in the last year.
Has been contributing to medical fields including mental health and addiction since she retired from medicine; with over 19 years of practicing clinical experience. Ecstasy use causes a feeling of euphoria, and that is the major reason why people take ecstasy. MDMA use has also been linked to heightened sensory perception.
If you notice your loved one showing the warning signs of a stimulant use disorder, advise them to find a treatment program. Another significant danger is the fact that people who take ecstasy don’t really know what they are actually ingesting. It is important to note, however, that this research is still in the early stages. More research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of medical MDMA. The medical use of MDMA is highly regulated and only administered by healthcare professionals in regulated settings.
Is There Treatment for Ecstasy Addiction?
Though known today mainly as a recreational drug, ecstasy has been used off-label in medical contexts. Ecstasy was explored as a therapeutic drug in the 1970s, as some psychotherapists believed it opened people up and enhanced their potential for empathy and understanding of one another. Unlike other recreational drugs such as cocaine and nicotine, which are derived from plants, ecstasy is synthesized by altering the structure of the amphetamine molecule. Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence. Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support.
MDMA is detectable in urine samples for up to four days, though it can sometimes be removed from the system within 48 hours. As the drug is digested, its psychoactive ingredients begin to take effect, usually within an hour of taking it, though it may be quicker on an empty stomach. Molly is slang for ‘molecular’ and refers to the crystalline powder form of this drug. Ecstasy users take the drug orally as a tablet, pill, or capsule. Ecstasy was classified as a Schedule I drug in 1985, which means that the substance has a high potential for abuse and is not approved by law to treat medical conditions.
MDMA was initially developed in 1912 as a pharmaceutical compound that could be used in the preparation of other pharmaceuticals, and it was patented in 1914. But once the drug’s hallucinogenic properties were discovered, further development was stopped for several decades. If you experience lasting effects after taking ecstasy, be sure to seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible. If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking, call 999 for an ambulance. Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others. After a week following moderate use of ecstasy, people can experience depression, irritability, anxiety, and problems with sleeping.
What’s in Ecstasy?
As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts. Recovered is not a medical, healthcare or therapeutic services provider and no medical, psychiatric, psychological or physical treatment or advice is being provided by Recovered. If you are facing a medical emergency or considering suicide or self harm, please call 911 immediately.
This could mean cutting a tablet into quarters and only taking one at a time. It’s a lot safer to test your limits instead of diving right in. High doses of ecstasy can cause a spike in your body temperature.
Some other (more dangerous) drugs sold as ecstasy take longer to kick in. When it’s a powder it’s called by its chemical name, MDMA, but it’s the same drug as ecstasy. When you begin to feel the effects of ecstasy like changes to the way you see the world around you, a familiar environment can provide you with a sense of security to know where you are. Avoid being around bodies of water, hills, or being in a car. Even small doses of ecstasy can harm your mental, physical, or emotional well-being.