1dayatatime
04-06-2005, 04:16 PM
Ecstasy drug
March 9, 2005 Optum
Question:
I have been hearing a lot about the drug ecstasy lately. What is it?
Answer:
Ecstasy is an illegal drug. Its scientific name is methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
On the street, this drug has many names, including:
XTC
E
X
Adam
beans
Ecstasy has no odor or taste. It's typically taken by mouth in capsule or tablet form.
Patterns of use. Ecstasy first emerged as a "party" or "club drug" in the mid-1980s. It is featured at some nightclubs, rock concerts and all-night parties called raves. However, people use the drug in other settings as well.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 676,000 Americans age 12 and older used MDMA in 2002. In a separate survey of MDMA use among students, researchers found that 4.5 percent of high school seniors used MDMA. This was a decrease from the 2001 peak rate of 9.2 percent.
Effects on mood. Ecstasy has been called "hug" and "the love drug" because users report an increased sense of empathy and affection for other people. Additional short-term effects are mental stimulation, enhanced sensory perception and increased physical energy.
Other effects. The effects of ecstasy last about three to six hours, depending on the dosage. As the initial euphoria fades away, users may experience:
confusion
depression
sleep problems
severe anxiety
drug cravings
nausea
chills
sweating
teeth clenching
muscle cramping
blurred vision
dehydration
increased heart rate
increased blood pressure
increased body temperature (hyperthermia)
Some MDMA effects -- such as hyperthermia -- are intensified by hot, crowded conditions on a dance floor. Hyperthermia can lead to seizures, liver failure, kidney failure, heart attack or stroke.
MDMA is a difficult chemical for the body to break down. With repeated use over a short time, MDMA can quickly build up to toxic levels.
Users have reported MDMA effects for weeks after taking it. This counters the myth that you can "dance off" the drug.
Research findings. In animal studies, repeated MDMA use produced irregular heart beats and damage to the heart muscle.
Studies also revealed long-lasting damage to brain cells that release serotonin. In humans, low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and impaired memory.
Ecstasy becomes even more dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Any dose of the drug can be dangerous. An overdose may be deadly.
Answered by Ginny Lund, M.A., L.P., C.E.A.P. Ginny is a clinical content lead with Optum, a company that delivers personal health management solutions designed to help individuals stay healthy, get healthy and live with illness. She earned her master's degree in counseling psychology and has worked with children, adolescents and adults addressing a wide variety of mental health concerns.
References
"Ecstasy/MDMA." National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2/1/05. http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html (Viewed 2/25/05).
"MDMA (Ecstasy)." NIDA InfoFacts. 2/04. http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ecstasy.html (Viewed 2/25/05).
"NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin - Club Drugs." National Institute on Drug Abuse. 5/04. http://www.nida.nih.gov/ClubAlert/Clubdrugalert.html (Viewed 2/25/05).
March 9, 2005 Optum
Question:
I have been hearing a lot about the drug ecstasy lately. What is it?
Answer:
Ecstasy is an illegal drug. Its scientific name is methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
On the street, this drug has many names, including:
XTC
E
X
Adam
beans
Ecstasy has no odor or taste. It's typically taken by mouth in capsule or tablet form.
Patterns of use. Ecstasy first emerged as a "party" or "club drug" in the mid-1980s. It is featured at some nightclubs, rock concerts and all-night parties called raves. However, people use the drug in other settings as well.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 676,000 Americans age 12 and older used MDMA in 2002. In a separate survey of MDMA use among students, researchers found that 4.5 percent of high school seniors used MDMA. This was a decrease from the 2001 peak rate of 9.2 percent.
Effects on mood. Ecstasy has been called "hug" and "the love drug" because users report an increased sense of empathy and affection for other people. Additional short-term effects are mental stimulation, enhanced sensory perception and increased physical energy.
Other effects. The effects of ecstasy last about three to six hours, depending on the dosage. As the initial euphoria fades away, users may experience:
confusion
depression
sleep problems
severe anxiety
drug cravings
nausea
chills
sweating
teeth clenching
muscle cramping
blurred vision
dehydration
increased heart rate
increased blood pressure
increased body temperature (hyperthermia)
Some MDMA effects -- such as hyperthermia -- are intensified by hot, crowded conditions on a dance floor. Hyperthermia can lead to seizures, liver failure, kidney failure, heart attack or stroke.
MDMA is a difficult chemical for the body to break down. With repeated use over a short time, MDMA can quickly build up to toxic levels.
Users have reported MDMA effects for weeks after taking it. This counters the myth that you can "dance off" the drug.
Research findings. In animal studies, repeated MDMA use produced irregular heart beats and damage to the heart muscle.
Studies also revealed long-lasting damage to brain cells that release serotonin. In humans, low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and impaired memory.
Ecstasy becomes even more dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Any dose of the drug can be dangerous. An overdose may be deadly.
Answered by Ginny Lund, M.A., L.P., C.E.A.P. Ginny is a clinical content lead with Optum, a company that delivers personal health management solutions designed to help individuals stay healthy, get healthy and live with illness. She earned her master's degree in counseling psychology and has worked with children, adolescents and adults addressing a wide variety of mental health concerns.
References
"Ecstasy/MDMA." National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2/1/05. http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html (Viewed 2/25/05).
"MDMA (Ecstasy)." NIDA InfoFacts. 2/04. http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ecstasy.html (Viewed 2/25/05).
"NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin - Club Drugs." National Institute on Drug Abuse. 5/04. http://www.nida.nih.gov/ClubAlert/Clubdrugalert.html (Viewed 2/25/05).