Dull, Dreary Facts About Ecstasy Addiction

While there's nothing wrong with partying (And having fun with friends) especially during these stressful times, the problem starts when you drink and pop a “party drug” at the same time, because party drugs like MDMD or “ecstasy” can lead to serious, long-lasting and life-threatening effects. Here's a look at a couple of dull, dreary facts about ecstasy addiction. 

Ecstasy is the Street Name for a Version of MDMA

Apart from cocaine, LSD and opium, ecstasy addiction is another threat which threatens to destroy people, families, and society in general.  According to drug addiction experts, ecstasy is the street name for a version of MDMA or 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. 

Ecstasy (Or Molly) is an illegal, synthetic drug that is classified as a stimulant that has extremely hallucinogenic properties. Both ecstasy and molly are derived from MDMA, although ecstasy is the term used to describe a designer version in pill or tablet form (while Molly refers to the white, crystal-like substance). 

The Nasty Effects of Ecstasy

Although ecstasy “promotes” a feeling of well-being, happiness or friendliness, and it enhances the user's sense of sight, sound, smell and touch, ecstasy addiction may lead to an array of short-term and long-term negative effects.  

Initially, ecstasy use may lead to a heightened feeling of euphoria, calmness and relaxation, long-lasting energy, empathy for others and lowered inhibitions. Like most drugs, ecstasy interferes or alters the pleasure center of the brain, and distorts the natural levels of dopamine. The high from ecstasy may last from 3 to 5 hours, and the effects may linger for up to 8 hours. 

The short-term and long-term effects of ecstasy addiction vary. It may lead to increased wakefulness or insomnia, increased perspiration and sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, tiredness or lethargy, visual and auditory hallucinations, nausea and vomiting. 

The Dark and Dreary Statistics of Ecstasy Abuse

Globally, ecstasy addiction is a major threat, of which governments and health experts are sounding the alarm bells in a bid to prevent it from becoming a life-threatening pandemic of sorts. Let's take a look at the grim statistics: 92% of those who begin using ecstasy later turn to other drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and heroin.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that there are 9 million people (mostly teenagers and young adults) who are victims of ecstasy addiction. Emergency room visits that are due to ecstasy use and addiction have also risen by a whopping 1,200% since it became the “club drug” of choice at all-night raves and parties. 

To help reduce the threat of ecstasy use and addiction,  the use of peer-led advocacies and drug-prevention programs by both governments and private sector organizations have shown promise at reducing MDMA use among adolescents and young adults. 

Online school-based prevention programs are also helping towards effectively delivering messages to high school and college students about the negative effects of ecstasy abuse.