A Drug Guide
MDMA
MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a completely synthesized drug with absolutely no plant components involved in its creation. It is both a stimulant and a hallucinogenic, containing methamphetamine or amphetamine and other hallucinatory components to create a prolonged and otherworldly state of ecstasy, hence its street name: Ecstasy or XTC.
Ecstasy
MDMA comes in pill and powder forms. It’s components stimulate the body’s production of serotonin, the brain’s own “happy” chemical, evoking within the user a perception of complete happiness and love. Ecstasy users take this drug in social situations as it increases their ability to communicate and lessons their inhibitions. This effect is called: rolling.
Street Names
- Ecstasy
- E
- XTC
Effects of Ecstasy
Depending upon what chemicals are used in Ecstasy the effects can be mild to strong. Ecstasy can heighten perceptions, increase pleasure in eating, dancing, or sexual activities, or produce feelings of paranoia and isolation.
Your Brain and MDMA
MDMA taps into the brains serotonin mechanisms. It is the release of this powerful drug that causes that feeling of being in love and happy that MDMA users hail as their primary reason for taking the substance. Users experience warm feelings, such as joy and other exuberant emotions leading them to psychologically form an addiction to this drug.
Depending upon the exact chemical composition of E that users ingest, the effects can be good or bad, short or lasting, casual or hallucinogenic.
Dependency and Side Effects
Over time your body will become accustomed to the drug and its effects will lesson forcing users to take larger and larger quantities to receive comparable effects. Moreover, the drug can deplete the bodies serotonin supply causing profound effects to the brain chemistry and function.
Long term side-effects of MDMA usage include:
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Cardiovascular difficulties
- (in extreme cases) psychosis
Overdose
You may overdose on any drug if you take enough of it to produce adverse effects. Because it is unknown exactly what your drug is cut with it is difficult to predict lethal or harmful dosage. An overdose experience may be mild (heart palpitations) to extreme (heart attack, stroke, or death). Symptoms of overdose include:
- Accelerated heart rate
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Violence
- Seizures
If you or someone close to you is experiencing these effects call 911 or a poison control center at once.
Drug Detoxification and Treatment
MDMA does not have an special detoxification or treatment considerations. It does not have a physical dependency component to it as do opiates or other stimulants. It is more of a socially dependent drug and therefore treatment options tend to be focused upon relearning social interactions without the use of this social crutch.
For extreme cases of MDMA use the individual may experience months of depression while their serotonin replenishes and therefore counseling would need to be provided to deal with this emotional “slump”.
