People take drugs for numerous reasons. Some people take drugs to cope with a mental health disorder, stress, or trauma. For other people, their substance use is because they were prescribed medication and became dependent on it.
However, some people’s drug use is simply recreational. They take drugs because they believe that doing so will make them feel good. One of the party drugs that people take for no reason other than to enhance their ‘high’ is ecstasy.
However, ecstasy can have some unintended and undesirable side effects. It can also be addictive, and when people become addicted, they will need help to recover.
Luxe Recovery is a world-class treatment center that offers treatment for substance use disorders, process addictions, and co-occurring mental health disorders.
What is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy, E, molly, or MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug that can alter a user’s mood and perception. It can produce feelings of pleasure, give people a sense of emotional warmth, increase a user’s energy, and distort someone’s senses and perception of time.
MDMA is illegal in the United States, and the nation’s Drug Enforcement Administration classifies it as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means that it has no accepted medical use and a high risk of addiction and misuse.
MDMA use is relatively rare in the United States, though there are some demographics in which it can be prevalent.
How MDMA is Used
Ecstasy can cause a major release of serotonin, which can elevate mood and create a sense of emotional closeness and overall well-being. It also triggers a dopamine rush, leading to euphoria and increased energy.
Long-term Effects of Ecstasy Use
There are a number of effects that taking ecstasy can have. Some of the long-term effects can include:
Cognitive Impairment
The long-term use of ecstasy can cause people to develop cognitive impairments such as problems with memory, difficulty concentrating, executive dysfunction, and they may have difficulty processing information.
Neurotoxicity
Repeated MDMA use can also cause damage to serotonin neurons. This can permanently alter a person’s brain chemistry, greatly affecting their mood, cognition, and memory.
Psychological Effects
Some MDMA users report that they often suffer the symptoms of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Users can also have emotional instability, which can manifest as mood swings, irritability, and difficulty with managing emotions.
Physical Effects
Chronic MDMA use can also have many physical health effects. It can disrupt sleep patterns, resulting in poor sleep quality or insomnia, which can contribute to other effects on the body.
As is the case with many other drugs that can act as stimulants, long-term MDMA use may also result in cardiovascular problems such as hypertension and arrhythmias.
Long-term ecstasy misuse can also weaken the immune system, which can make a person more vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Short-Term Effects of MDMA Use
Using ecstasy can also result in several short-term effects, which can include:
Hyperthermia and Dehydration
MDMA can increase a person’s body temperature, especially when paired with hot environments (such as outdoor music festivals) or physical exertion (such as dancing). This can result in overheating or organ failure in some cases. Heat and physical exertion can also increase the risk of dehydration.
Physical Effects
Some of the short-term effects of taking MDMA can include nausea, blurred vision, muscle cramps, jaw grinding, sweating, and chills. It can also elevate a person’s blood pressure and heart rate, which can lead to long-term cardiovascular problems.
Cognitive Effects
MDMA can also cause some users to become paranoid or anxious. Some users may also become confused or disoriented. Insomnia is also possible, even after the other effects have worn off.
Aftereffects
Speaking of effects wearing off, the comedown from heroin can also be somewhat unpleasant. Some users can experience a comedown characterized by depression, irritability, and anxiety as their serotonin levels are depleted.
Some users can also have profound fatigue as the drug’s stimulant effects wear off. The comedown period can also cause people to have a mental fog, making it difficult for them to concentrate.
Decreasing the Risks of Ecstasy Use
There are some things that a person can do to reduce the harm done when using molly. As overheating and dehydration are both possibilities, it’s important to drink fluids to avoid them. However, it’s important not to drink too much, as this can lead to hyponatremia or water intoxication.
How to Stop Using MDMA
The best way to avoid MDMA’s negative effects on the brain and the body is to stop taking it altogether. This is easier said than done with addiction, but several treatment options can help stop a person’s MDMA use. Some of these options include:
Detox
One of the first phases of stopping a person’s drug use is to detox. However, this can cause a person to experience withdrawal symptoms. For ecstasy, withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, vivid dreams, insomnia, muscle pain, and loss of appetite.
Rehab
Rehab can be a powerful tool in helping a person overcome drug use. Inpatient rehab can put someone in a controlled environment where they can receive intensive care for their drug use. Outpatient programs allow patients to receive flexible care so they don’t disrupt their lives.
Therapy
Therapy can be greatly beneficial to the recovery process. Individual therapy can give patients a safe space wherein they can delve into the root causes of their addiction and develop coping mechanisms for their cravings.
Group therapy can be an invaluable source of support for those with similar experiences and opportunities to practice the skills learned during individual therapy.
Our Treatment for Ecstasy Can Help You Recover
There’s nothing inherently wrong with having a good time, even if some drugs enhance it. After all, life is not meant to be endless drudgery. But some people can lose control of what they do to enjoy themselves.
But control is something that can be regained, and at Luxe Recovery, we help people regain control over their use of drugs so they can manage their addictions and live sober, healthy lives.
