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The Facts Behind Ecstacy

For some people, MDMA is addictive. A survey of young adult and adolescent users found that 43 percent of those who reported ecstasy use met the criteria for dependence, and 34 percent met the criteria for drug abuse. Almost 60 percent of people who use MDMA report withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, and trouble concentrating.

MDMA affects many of the same systems in the brain that are targeted by other addictive drugs. Experiments have shown that animals prefer MDMA, much like they do cocaine, over other pleasurable stimuli, another sign of most addictive drugs.

MDMA has become a popular drug, in part because of the effects that a person experiences within an hour or so after taking a single dose. Those include feelings of mental stimulation, emotional warmth, a general sense of well being, and decreased anxiety. In addition, users report enhanced sensory perception. Because of the drug's stimulant properties, when used in club or dance settings MDMA can also enable users to dance for extended periods of time.

However, there are some users who report undesirable effects immediately, including anxiety, agitation, and recklessness.

MDMA is not a benign drug. MDMA can produce a variety of adverse health effects, including nausea, chills, sweating, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. MDMA overdose can also occur - the symptoms can include high blood pressure, faintness, panic attacks, and in severe cases, a loss of consciousness, and seizures.

MDMA is rapidly absorbed into the human blood stream, but once in the body MDMA interferes with the body's ability to metabolize, or break down, the drug. As a result, additional doses of MDMA can produce unexpectedly high blood levels, which could worsen the cardiovascular and other toxic effects of this drug. MDMA also interferes with the metabolism of other drugs, including some of the adulterants that may be found in MDMA tablets.

Please call (888) 373-4133 to find the right drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)