Ecstasy Addiction Treatment

Getting Help with Ecstasy Addiction

Developing a substance use disorder for ecstasy can destroy a person’s life, ruining personal relationships, careers, emotional and physical well-being and potential for a happy and healthy future. This is especially true the longer the addiction has been maintained. Thankfully, recovery is possible with the help of rehab facilities like Brookdale, and the sooner treatment begins, the better chance of maintaining a life free from drugs and alcohol. If you or someone you love is suffering from an addiction to ecstasy, it imperative to seek the help you need today!

Please call our trusted Admissions Specialists now at 855-575-1292 to begin the process of treatment and recovery.

Understanding Ecstasy Addiction

The medical name for ecstasy is MDMA, which is the shortened form of its chemical compound 3, 4-methylenendioxy-methamphetamine. It is known for its perception-altering abilities and functions as a combination of a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Because of this, it also boasts the mood enhancing and energy boosting effects of a normal stimulant, and as a result some users attempt to treat it as they would an antidepressant. While it can work for this, medical professionals advise against this because of the mind-altering properties and risk of addiction.

The primary reason that people develop an addiction to ecstasy stems from its mood boosting effects. When taken, it gives the user a rush of pleasant feelings accompanied by a burst of energy that is known as a high. The drug does this by impacting the activity levels of three key components in the brain. These three are known as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, and all of them are pleasure chemicals found normally in the body. Dopamine causes feelings of euphoria and heightened energy, norepinephrine raises an individual’s heart rate and blood pressure and serotonin helps raise a person’s mood and feel emotional closeness. Together, these three chemicals also decrease the urge to sleep and often raise a person’s sex drive.

What causes the high associated with ecstasy is not so much the presence of these chemicals, but rather how it prompts the brain to release a significantly higher quantity of them than is normally found in the body. This result gives the drug its effectiveness as an antidepressant because the rush of pleasure overrides feelings of sadness, but at the same time, still holds an extremely high risk of addiction.

Ecstasy is typically available in a tablet or powder form of varying colors, where it can be taken orally or snorted. It impacts the brain in roughly 15 minutes depending on how it is taken and its effects usually last between three and six hours.

Because they are often understood as the same drug, it is important to be aware of another drug known as “Molly.” Both drugs are similar in effect and contain MDMA.  Despite often being used interchangeably, the two synthetic drugs are different. Molly is a derivative of ecstasy and contains other chemical compounds. These substances differ depending on the batch of molly, but a few common options to cut it with are aspirin, caffeine and meth.

Common Nicknames for Ecstasy

To avoid detection since ecstasy is an illegal drug, dealers and users frequently use other names to refer to it. Knowing these street names is helpful for recognizing if someone is using ecstasy, although this list is constantly evolving as users attempt to trade without drawing attention.

A few of the most common nicknames for it include:

How Addictive is Ecstasy?

While there is some debate among medical professionals over how addictive ecstasy is exactly, there is no doubt that when abused, it presents a high risk of addiction. The reason for this is connected to how ecstasy prompts the body to react when taken.

Normally, the pleasure chemicals dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin are released as part of a reward system in the body in response to something positive. However, when ecstasy forces the brain to release them in such high quantities that would otherwise not be natural, it teaches the brain to crave more. In this case, more means not only the frequency of use but also the amount used each time. Habitual use will cause the body to grow accustomed to the drug, developing a tolerance. When this happens, the individual will need more of the drug to feel the same effects.

With time, the body and its systems continue to adjust until they eventually come to rely on having such a high amount of pleasure chemicals. When this happens, a person is said to have developed a dependence, and if they do not continue to use the drug in increasing amounts, they will experience symptoms of withdrawal.

Once ecstasy use has progressed this far, it becomes incredibly difficult to quit because the user will no longer feel a strong urge for the drug, but rather it will seem like an overwhelming need. The feeling to use is also so powerful because of how painful withdrawal can be to tolerate. Without proper care, the body may face serious health risks.

Symptoms of Ecstasy Addiction

When a person begins abusing ecstasy, they can expect a range of physical and psychological side effects in addition to the normal periods of high that many users primarily seek. These signs start out relatively minor, but over time worsen and may even cause permanent damage. Knowing these is a valuable way to recognize if someone is suffering from an addiction because not only will their body be impacted, but their behavioral habits are likely to change.

The most common health effects to watch out for include:

There are also several common behavioral shifts that may be a sign of a drug addiction, such as:

• Loss of interest in hobbies and favorite activities

• A sudden change in social groups and social setting

• Decreased performance in school or at work

• Lack of responsibility

• Uncooperative attitude

• Hostile mood shifts (particularly connected to when ecstasy is mentioned)

More About Ecstasy

MDMA was first developed in 1912, but it did not see true medical use until the 1970s, when psychiatrists attempted to use in therapy sessions, to help patients speak more openly. This remained legal until 1985 when the United States Drug Enforcement Administration classified it as a Schedule I drug, making its use illegal. Schedule I is a tier saved only for drugs that have no medical value and that have a high risk of addiction.

By this point, the drug had gained its nickname of ecstasy and despite its new status, did not disappear. Today, it is most commonly taken by young adults and teenagers for recreational use. A few statistics to consider regarding ecstasy are that according to studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• Ecstasy is most commonly connected to night clubs and all-night raves

• 5% of eighth graders tried ecstasy at least once

• 5% of twelfth graders admitted to abusing it at least once

• 6% of people age 18-25 have tried the drug (this is roughly 1 in 10)

Interestingly, in 2016 a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggested that ecstasy may have some valuable medical use in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, which plagues many returning veterans. Since this though, there has been no further evidence supporting its value over other drugs and ecstasy remains a Schedule I drug that presents a dangerous risk to the public.

Treatment and Therapy for Ecstasy Addiction

Due to how ecstasy alters the brain, it is difficult and often dangerous to break an addiction without professional help in a controlled environment. When someone seeks help from a qualified treatment provider, they can expect to undergo various medical and clinical interventions to help combat their disease.

Typically, treatment begins with the detoxification process, a crucial and essential step in the recovery process. During this time, the substance of choice will be removed from the individual’s body while undergoing 24-hour medical supervision and care. Physicians and nursing staff will utilize various methods to help in the process, including medications when appropriate, to mitigate any distressing withdrawal symptoms and health conditions.

Once a patient has been medically cleared, they can begin the transition into residential treatment. In this phase of care, patients participate in an array of therapeutic practices in a highly restrictive and controlled setting. This is to ensure each person receives the care they need without the distractions from the outside world. Therapy is used to teach each patient healthy coping mechanisms they will need to fight future cravings and face potential obstacles without using drugs or alcohol. Some common therapeutic modalities used in residential treatment include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, relapse prevention, family therapy, co-occurring disorder treatment, holistic treatment, as well as many others.

Before a patient has completed treatment, they will be given a comprehensive aftercare plan to aid in their future recovery goals. This can include extended treatment, outpatient therapy, support groups, family therapy, vocational assistance and life-skills training. The primary goal of aftercare is to provide the patient with positive support long after treatment has ended, so they may have the best possible chance of a life…recovered.

Getting Help for Codeine Addiction Today

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to ecstasy, do not wait any longer! Addiction is a cunning disease; whose only goal is to destroy your life and the lives of those you love.

Here at Brookdale, we have created an environment of healing, where those who struggle with alcoholism and addiction can receive the individualized support the need and deserve. From the moment you enter our doors, you will know that you are cared for and loved.

If you need help, please do not hesitate to reach out for help. You are never alone in this process and we are just one phone call away.

Contact us today at 855-575-1292 to begin the process of treatment and recovery.