There are many misconceptions about ecstasy, namely that becoming dependent on it isn’t possible. However, you can develop tolerance to its effects and form a life-threatening habit. Long-term use can have severe consequences, including a high risk of unintended use of other dangerous drugs like fentanyl.
Effects of Ecstasy
Ecstasy is one street name for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, otherwise known as MDMA or molly. Other nicknames for this drug include Adam, E, Eve, clarity, disco biscuit, hug drug, and lover’s speed.
The drug was first created as a compound to control bleeding. However, due to potent psychological effects, the drug has a high potential for misuse.
MDMA alters your mood and perception and increases feelings of pleasure, well-being, empathy, emotional warmth, and energy. It is chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens but makes you feel open, emotionally close, and trusting, which is why it’s known as the hug drug.
As a stimulant, ecstasy increases alertness, heart rate, blood pressure, and sensory perception. However, you might experience side effects like tremors, muscle cramps, nausea, fainting, sweating, chills, and dehydration. With ongoing use, this drug effects damage your serotonin system, and you eventually have trouble feeling pleasure at all.
It’s also possible to overdose on ecstasy. The drug interferes with your natural detoxification system, so multiple doses can quickly reach harmful levels and cause an overdose within a short time. At these high levels, ecstasy interferes with temperature regulation and can lead to liver, kidney, or heart failure and even death.
Ecstasy Addiction
While studies show conflicting results regarding ecstasy addiction as a physical dependency, it is habit-forming. As your serotonin system becomes damaged, you lose the ability to feel pleasure and build a tolerance to the drug.
In this case, small doses of molly won’t produce the same effects, and you may attempt to fix the problem by taking more and more ecstasy. You may also experience withdrawal when you don’t have it and crave the drug even when it makes you sick or has harmful side effects.
People also report troubling withdrawal symptoms while addicted to ecstasy. These may be issues like problems with concentration, fatigue, depression, and loss of appetite.
Pills Laced With Fentanyl
Ecstasy is often laced with other drugs, like bath salts (synthetic cathinones), fentanyl, ketamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Fentanyl is a prescription pain medication similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent. It’s often added to drugs because you only need a small amount to produce a significant high, making drugs cheaper to produce. However, you also only need a small amount to overdose.
People addicted to MDMA may take several doses, one right after the other, which means you might accidentally take significant amounts of potent opioids. A fentanyl overdose can slow or stop your breathing and lead to coma or death.
Get Help for Ecstasy Addiction Now
PACE Recovery Center offers clinical addiction treatment, drug detoxification, and mental health care for men. Therapists and counselors can help you achieve sobriety and maintain recovery through extended residential care or outpatient treatment. Get in touch with an admissions counselor today.
