Author: James Anderson

Ecstasy MDMA or Molly: Uses, Effects, Risks

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. People with heart problems can be at risk when using ecstasy and especially when taken in high doses. As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts.

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. However, in some cases, you may continue to feel the side effects of molly the day after you take it. The symptoms may persist for up to a week or more, especially if MDMA is mixed with other drugs such as marijuana. High doses of ecstasy can cause a spike in your body temperature. 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 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. 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. If you’re going to take ecstasy, try to take it in mini doses. 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.

Because drugs like MDMA are not regulated, you will hardly find ‘pure MDMA.’ This is because even the supposedly pure MDMA contains other substances such as cocaine, ketamine, and ephedrine. Ecstasy gained popularity in nightclub scenes and at music concerts/festivals. However, nowadays, it is used by a broader range of people on different occasions.

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. The chemical name for ecstasy is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It is a derivative of amphetamine and has a similar structure to methamphetamine (“meth”).

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. A person’s unique physical attributes and frequency of drug use can also affect how long it is detectable.

If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts while using ecstasy, call or text 988 (the national suicide hotline). Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people are more likely to have used ecstasy within the last 30 days. Ecstasy is most popular among younger males, ranging from 18 to 25 years old. In a 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was shown that of those 12 years of age and older, almost 2.2 million people used ecstasy in the last 12 months. Treatment for stimulant use disorder can occur in different settings (inpatient or outpatient) and the recovery journey will involve various therapeutic approaches. Support groups are also essential in maintaining long-term sobriety.

How Long Do the Effects Last?

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. In nearly 25% of the samples, the researchers were unable to identify what was actually in the tablets. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration granted MDMA breakthrough therapy status due to the preliminary evidence of its efficacy in the treatment of PTSD. This status helps expedite the development and review of substances for the treatment of serious conditions.

Ecstasy, also commonly known by its slang name “molly,” is a synthetic drug known primarily for its hallucinogenic  and stimulant effects. It’s known to impart feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception. While there are no specific treatments for ecstasy addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective option. This type of intervention helps change how people think and behave in order to support addiction recovery.

Is There Treatment for Ecstasy Addiction?

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. Addiction is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as continued use despite harmful consequences. Reports also suggest that people who use ecstasy exhibit such symptoms as well as other markers of addiction including tolerance, drug cravings, and withdrawal. Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support. If you communicate your problems about ecstasy and express the desire for help, you can avoid substance use disorders.

Ecstasy overdose symptoms can include faintness, panic attacks or extreme anxiety, high blood pressure, and seizures. When ecstasy use is followed by vigorous physical activity, it can lead to a potentially dangerous rise in body temperature known as hyperthermia. There is never a good time to take an illegal substance or misuse it. When it comes to the amount of MDMA in a tablet of ecstasy, you never know how much or how little of the drug there is and how you will react to it.

1. 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.
2. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts while using ecstasy, call or text 988 (the national suicide hotline).
3. Just like other drugs that affect sensory perception, ecstasy can be addictive.

Your health, weight, the amount you’ve taken, and other drugs used with ecstasy can all play a role. These differences can cause a person to react differently to the effects of ecstasy when on the drug and coming down from it. This is why ecstasy use causes increased appreciation of light shows and high sensitivity to music. Ecstasy powder typically looks like grey or white crystals. On the other hand, ecstasy tablets come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. It was many years after this that MDMA eventually appeared on the streets as a recreational drug.

Can You Get Addicted to Ecstasy?

It produces euphoria for a short period and also distorts sensory perceptions. Ecstasy is an illegal substance typically made in a laboratory. For a few years, in an attempt to circumvent the law, different versions of ecstasy were synthesized, which was the basis of the designer drugs movement. This production was eventually outlawed but re-emerged as a problem around the year 2000 with the popularity of homemade crystal meth. If you experience lasting effects after taking ecstasy, be sure to seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible.

CBT also teaches people coping skills so people can better manage the stress that contributes to substance use. The immediate impact of ecstasy begins within about 45 minutes of taking a dose. People typically experience an increased sense of well-being and emotional warmth. Other effects include feeling greater empathy toward others and enhanced sensory perception. Ecstasy directly affects your brain’s levels of serotonin (mood), dopamine (energy), and norepinephrine (heart rate).

Just like every other drug, the effects of ecstasy vary from person to person. Taking ecstasy regularly affects individuals depending on weight, size, health status, and whether the person is used to taking ecstasy. Ongoing clinical trials suggest that ecstasy is a promising treatment for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).