These symptoms may point to an addiction, or substance use disorder. Commonly abused at parties, ecstasy is popular among college students — especially at raves and concerts. Studies suggest approximately 1 out of every 10 college students have experimented with the drug, and the rates of polydrug abuse are far higher among ecstasy users than other groups of drug users.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Quitting ecstasy without medical involvement is unlikely to cause any major health problems, but a medical detox may help alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms. Ecstasy abuse usually begins out of curiosity or experimentation, but continued abuse can devolve into addiction. Signs of addiction include using the drug frequently and being unable to have fun or feel normal without it. Addiction is characterized by an unnatural compulsion to use the drug without regard to negative consequences.

How Do People Take Ecstasy?

Overdosing on ecstasy means taking more than the recreational dose. Ecstasy overdose can cause seizures, foaming at the mouth, and a spike in body temperature. This can lead to heatstroke or aggravate an underlying heart condition, both of which can prove to be fatal. Depending on a number of factors, including body weight, gender, amount taken, and method of administration, ecstasy’s effects can last up to 8 hours.

Risks of Ecstasy

• The medical use of MDMA is highly regulated and only administered by healthcare professionals in regulated settings.
• In general, the unlicensed use, sale or manufacture of MDMA are all criminal offences.
• Educate yourself, talk with your doctor, and reach out to local or virtual organizations that can provide support for addiction.
• Techniques and therapies such as reflexology, ultrasound treatment, massage therapy, and psychotherapy are important.
• There are also powerful designer cathinone stimulants known by the street name “bath salts” that are often sold as molly.
• Commonly referred to as ecstasy or molly, MDMA has become popular drug of abuse in recent years due to its pleasure-inducing effects.

This means the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers it as having no medical use and high potential for misuse. It’s illegal to sell, buy, or use any form of MDMA — including molly — in the United States. The notion of whether or not a particular substance is “addictive” depends on the subjective interpretation of the word. Typically, when individuals are discussing whether or not some substance is addictive, they are referring to the notion of physical dependence. One study found that 98% of college students who had used ecstasy had also used marijuana. Ecstasy abusers were far more likely (anywhere from 3 times to about 30 times) to abuse inhalants, LSD, cocaine, and heroin.

Potentially Dangerous Effects in the Body

A person experiences feelings of euphoria, increased energy, intimacy and emotional warmth, sensitivity to touch, and a distortion of time and of the senses. MDMA stimulates the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, from brain neurons producing a high that lasts from 3 to 6 hours, but the length of a high is variable based on the user. The drug’s rewarding effects vary with the individual taking it, the dose taken, purity of the MDMA, and the environment in which it is taken.

• After the peak effects of ecstasy begin to dissipate, users will often “double-stack” or “re-up” and take more ecstasy to increase and return the peak euphoric effects of the drug.
• Group therapy will involve other addicts who can share their experiences for others to learn from.
• When taken alone or combined with alcohol or other substances, it can cause serious health problems and may lead to dependence.
• People with MDMA-induced euphoria who dance or exert themselves in hot or confined areas, such as at a rave, club, or dance party, are at risk of experiencing heatstroke.
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What Are the Signs of Ecstasy Addiction?

Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support. If you communicate your problems about ecstasy and express the desire for help, you can avoid substance use disorders. Although there are no medications to help you stop using ecstasy, some people who have had issues with ecstasy have reported that behavioral therapy can help. Behavioral therapy teaches you molly mdma skills to better manage the situations that trigger your need to use ecstasy. Ecstasy should not be taken with other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana, as doing so increases health risks.

Individuals who chronically use ecstasy and develop these issues would be diagnosed with a substance use disorder. A diagnosis of a substance use disorder reflects a dysfunctional and harmful pattern of substance use that is a more realistic reflection of what the term addiction is supposed to represent. Research and clinical viewpoints vary as to how addictive ecstasy is or even whether it is addictive at all. There are many individuals who report becoming addicted to ecstasy, but the clinical research on the subject is less extensive than with many other drugs. A number of studies have indicated that ecstasy is addictive, though to a lesser extent than many other drugs. However, that does not mean that an ecstasy addiction that has developed is not a serious problem.

• A person needs to seek immediate medical attention if they experience the above MDMA use.
• Furthermore, it can also cause memory issues, issues with cognitive ability, and poor performance on tests.
• Hyperthermia, a dangerous spike in body temperature, is one of the most common and serious side effects of MDMA use.
• It is dangerous, and its hazards make ecstasy addiction completely avoided or treated as soon as possible.

Educate yourself, talk with your doctor, and reach out to local or virtual organizations that can provide support for addiction. Ecstasy keeps you from feeling any physical pain, so you may not realize it if you injure yourself while high. A 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health of people aged 12 or older showed that almost 2.2 million people said they used ecstasy in 2023, or nearly 1% of people surveyed. More than 22 million of those surveyed said they have tried ecstasy at some point in their lives.

History of Ecstasy

The most telling sign of an ecstasy addiction is wanting to stop but being unable to. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. After these have subsided, it is important to take care of the psychological and social damage that ecstasy is likely to have caused in the life of the addict.

Long-Term Effects and Dangers of Ecstasy

AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. Ecstasy being a street or party drug means that many addicts get their first use of it at parties or raves. After using it and feeling its effects, they may find themselves desiring those effects again.