Addictive Substances

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Ecstasy is a slang street term for MDMA which is a psychedelic and stimulant man-made drug that's used by many teens and young adults. There are some older adults that use ecstasy but it's much more commonly used by the younger generation. MDMA is used throughout the United States it's just more popular in some states compared to others. MDMA is a shortened way of referring to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

Researchers have found that Ecstasy tablets not only contain MDMA but a lot of other combinations of drugs like meth, cocaine, ephedrine, caffeine, ketamine, and dextromethorphan which is an over the counter cough suppressant. Ecstasy is a synthetic stimulant, this means it's man-made so you never know what you're taking and using this drug can lead to an overdose or death.

Appearance of Ecstasy or MDMA

For the most part MDMA is found in tablet form with logos on them, but you can find capsules, powder or liquid form. Many of these tablets have brand name logos imprinted on them and they come in colors which makes them much more appealing to young people. People have to be careful though, these pills look like candy and even though a person shouldn't take ecstasy to get high to begin with, people mix them in with candy and an innocent person would never know they were drugs.

Street Slang Names for Ecstasy

There are street terms used when referring to MDMA or Ecstasy among users which include:

Adam, Beans, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Ecstasy, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Hug, Love Drug, Lover's Speed, MDMA, Peace, STP, X, and XTC.

Ecstasy Euphoric Psychedelic Effects

Ecstasy is considered a club drug or a party drug because it's commonly used during parties, raves which are all night parties, and hanging out in clubs. The reason so many young people like ecstasy is because they experience a heightened sense of sexuality, sense of touch, and euphoria when they're high. They become highly energized, alert and sometimes even hyper in the beginning of their high. Ecstasy reduces inhibitions so people that are shy, bashful and uncomfortable tend to let go of their fears and fit in. Sense of time and perception is distorted when a person is high on ecstasy also.

The affects a person experiences when they're high on ecstasy aren't always good though. Some people experience bad feelings when they take ecstasy, instead of experiencing heightened euphoria in the beginning they feel agitated, anxious, sweat or experience chills. MDMA is a man-made drug so you never really know what you're taking when you use the stimulant and each time you take it, the experience could be different.

Negative Health Effects Caused From Ecstasy Use

MDMA or Ecstasy use has serious and dangerous effects on the user's health and there have been times the drug's effects were lethal. One of the serious problems with MDMA is that the drug is unpredictable, you're never sure what's in it and this drug affects people differently sometimes. Sometimes a high dose of MDMA interferes with your body's natural ability to regulate body temperature. If this does happen it can lead to hyperthermia, it doesn't happen very often but you never can be sure that it won't. If there is a drastic increase in body temperature and hyperthermia sets in it can damage your liver, kidneys, and cause cardiovascular system failure or even worse, death.

Muscle tension, tremors, muscle cramps, nausea, blurred vision, clenching of the teeth, perspiring, dizziness or faintness are all negative effects associated with MDMA or ecstasy use.

No one really knows what's in ecstasy because it just depends on what ingredients were used in the illegal lab that produced the drug. There can be a host of other health effects associated with use. Clinical studies show that MDMA could increase the risk of long term or possibly permanent memory and learning problems.

Where Does Ecstasy or MDMA Come From?

Ecstasy is made in illegal labs and most of the MDMA found in the United States is produced in Canada in their clandestine labs and sometimes in the Netherlands and smuggled in across the borders. There are some small illegal labs that operate in the U.S. though.

As stated above ecstasy is a big problem among young people, so big that the Director of the National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske released a statement on March 24, 2011. After reviewing an analysis that showed hospital emergency room visits spiked dramatically between 2004 and 2008 involving the illegal drug Ecstasy. Spring Break is a big vacation time for young people and the use of drugs by youths is rising dramatically. Young people tend to party when they are on Spring Break and parents need to be aware of how dangerous party drugs like ecstasy are, especially during this time of the year.

The data that was released from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency which is also known as SAMHSA, shows that emergency room visits related to Ecstasy had risen from 10,220 in 2004 to 17,865 in 2008. These were adolescents from 12 to 17 years old and 18 to 29 years of age. Ecstasy is serious and dangerous enough; the study also showed that the ER visits that involved Ecstasy also involved one or more other drugs which make this much more dangerous.

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