Drug Alert: The Effects Of Ecstasy On The Body

Ecstasy, a popular party drug for young adults and teens, can have devastating - even lethal - effects on the body and mind.

Sometimes called "the club drug" or "the party drug", ecstasy is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen that is fairly inexpensive and readily attainable. Targeted towards young adults, ecstasy is the more common name for methylene-dioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. Ecstasy is similar to MDA and methamphetamine, synthetic drugs that are known to cause psychological abnormalities and brain damage. It comes in a tablet or capsule form most often, but can also be found in powdered form for oral consumption, at about $10 - $30 per dose. A dose can last up to 24 hours and produces deep euphoria, sensations of weightlessness, feelings of having clearer thought patterns and a temporary feeling of intense happiness, but can also cause severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, loss of control over body movements, fainting, confusion and sleep disorders. Worst case scenarios have included strokes and heart attacks, kidney failure, tremors, seizures, paralysis and death.

When certain chemicals are combined they can become dangerous or even lethal potions. Since ecstasy is the combination of different drugs, these potentially lethal combinations are not rare. The dangers increase as fillers are added to the formula to increase the size of the batch. Depending upon the recipe used to make the ecstasy, users can experience permanent damage to areas of the brain which determine thought patterns, memory and pleasure. They can also continue experiencing the effects of the drug for weeks after consuming it. The likelihood of this is increased as the drug is used more frequently.

It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours for the drug to take effect but when it finally kicks in, it's rapid. After coming off of the drug, many experience difficulty sleeping and noticeable mood swings. Many users report being extremely drained the day after taking ecstasy.

Although for the most part, taking ecstasy produces a feeling of all being right with the world, but for some, past traumas or sad memories overtake the person with uncontrollable emotions. Some people experience a "crash" where they come down hard from the drug, experiencing deep depression, sadness or annoyed, but others report that they don't crash. Still others report that after coming down from the drug, they have several days of feeling elated and happy. This isn't the case with most, who have feelings of despair, loneliness or being afraid upon stopping the drug. Many users think that taking ecstasy is relatively safe, but they are wrong.

If you have been encouraged to try ecstasy, but haven't given in to the temptation, don't. If you've already tried ecstasy, give it up and choose a happy, purposeful, life instead. If you feel as though you are addicted or out of control, or if you know someone who is, seek help for yourself or them before the next dose of this frightening drug. Treatment centers are available world wide or you can consult your physician or the local emergency room. There's no shame in seeking help, but there is shame in continuing on the destructive path.

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