Research has shown that prolonged use of the drug damages the serotonin-containing nerve cells in the brain. Indeed, primates exposed to MDMA showed that they had reduced numbers of serotonergic neurons even seven years after their exposure. It is not really known if ecstasy is a drug that is easy to become addicted to. Many users report that it is difficult to stop taking it, which seems to indicate that psychological dependence is a possibility. Ecstasy (MDMA) is designated as Schedule I substance by the DEA.
It’s possible to build up tolerance to ecstasy, which means people need to take more of the drug to get the same buzz. You should always start by taking a very small amount to begin with and wait for the effects to kick in before deciding whether to take anymore. There’s no way of knowing what’s inside your ecstasy pill or MDMA powder until you’ve taken it. Evidence suggests that long-term users can suffer from memory problems and may develop depression and anxiety. How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken. Lots of people feel very chatty and uninhibited on ecstasy, which makes them open up and talk about things they might not do normally.
Substance use is a complicated topic, especially when it concerns drugs that have relatively limited research available. The most common type of drug test is a urine test, which can detect MDMA metabolites for up to three days. Ecstasy use can also produce side effects, some of which may become dangerous. Laura is a former Modern Foreign Languages teacher who now works as a writer and translator.
The name ecstasy is derived from the feelings that one gets when taking it. MDMA gives the user an energising effect and allows them to experience heightened enjoyment from their senses including distorting their perception and time. It is also described by some as an entactogen, which is a addiction relapse drug that increases a person’s empathy and self-awareness. 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. Just like every other drug, the effects of ecstasy vary from person to person.
If you do use it, take precautions to avoid any accidents such as an overdose. It’s important to know how to reduce risk if you are to do so. 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. However, these two drugs have different chemical structures from one another. LSD may also produce stronger hallucinations, while molly produces stronger feelings of empathy.
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. Even small doses of ecstasy can harm your mental, physical, or emotional well-being. A person’s metabolism, individual health conditions, and the amount of molly they have ingested can impact detection times.
What is MDMA (Molly/Ecstacy)?
For this reason, you should never take a whole pill in one go, even if you’ve taken ecstasy before. Ecstasy pills are usually swallowed and alcoholic eyes MDMA is usually rubbed (dabbed) into the user’s gums. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
A 2022 survey showed that 0.6% of eighth graders (13 years old) said they used ecstasy in the last year. Ecstasy tablets are often marked with a symbol, number, or word. For example, a tablet might have the word “sky” written on it, relating to the type of “high” you will experience.
- Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support.
- However, what naïve drug users often don’t realise is that ecstasy starts its long-term destructive mission right from the first use.
- People with heart problems can be at risk when using ecstasy and especially when taken in high doses.
- Despite these challenges, researchers have been able to provide some guidelines regarding how long molly lasts.
This is why some ecstasy tablets have resulted in being given nicknames like teddy bears or Mitsubishis. As with other drugs and substances, it is possible for a person to build up tolerance levels. As such, the person may need to take increased amounts of the drug to feel the same effects. They take larger and larger doses which also increases the intensity of unwanted and rather unpleasant side effects. This, in turn, is what causes some people to spiral into taking other drugs such as cannabis or benzodiazepines to combat the effects.
Psychosocial Effects
A user’s empathy is also increased with its use, meaning it serves to bond people as a group. Many ecstasy tablets do not just contain MDMA – there are many combinations of drugs or compounds within the tablets that are harmful. Just like other substances of use, ecstasy use induces a state of euphoria.
This drug shares similarities with both stimulants and hallucinogens. Its primary side effects are high energy, increased sociability, and heightened sensory perceptions. Ecstasy is an illegal substance in the UK bruises: symptoms causes diagnosis treatment remedies prevention and, as such, it is often abused. Back in the 1990s, it surged in popularity at dance parties, raves and nightclubs. Now, it has spread to more sedate venues including university campuses and people’s homes.
How do people take it?
High doses of ecstasy can cause a spike in your body temperature. For street use, ecstasy is made illegally in labs with many ingredients, including isosafrole, amphetamine, and caffeine. Note that if a drug is sold as “ecstasy,” it still may not have any MDMA at all. Addictive ingredients are used to make ecstasy, causing you to crave more.
Although there are no medications to help with addiction to ecstasy, some people who have had issues with ecstasy have reported that behavioral therapy can help. Behavioral therapy teaches you skills to better manage the situations that trigger your need to use ecstasy. When you take ecstasy, the drug increases the way your brain chemicals work. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Ark Behavioral Health, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Ohio.
What Does Ecstacy Look Like? How Does the Drug Work?
Because ecstasy stimulates the central nervous system, the brain is tricked into activating the fight or flight response and therefore the body receives a burst of energy. It also distorts the senses so that perceptions of sounds and light are altered. For this reason, it is probably most popular on the party scene and at music festivals where there are large groups of people all looking to have a good time. Young people are particularly prone to taking ecstasy at such events, especially given their younger, more risk-averse mindsets. The maximum sentence for possession of a Class A drug like ecstasy is seven years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Less serious offences of possession usually result in going to the magistrates’ court, with sentences not exceeding six months and fines of no more than £5,000.
This is why ecstasy use causes increased appreciation of light shows and high sensitivity to music. Below are the effects of ecstasy on physical health, behavior, psychology, and social life. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. 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.