Raves and Parties Can Leave One Vulnerable to Ecstasy Addiction

Ecstasy or MDMA is a psychoactive drug that is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. It has increased dramatically in popularity over the past two decades, becoming known as a party drug. It is often used by young people in dance clubs, at raves, or at concerts. As a party drug, ecstasy is often combined with other drugs like speed and ketamine.

It is the repeated use of the drug in this way that can lead to ecstasy addiction.

The effects are that the drug heightens tactile sensation and offers a feeling of well being. This has earned it the nickname of the “love drug.” It also changes the user’s perception of time and space.

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that was originally intended to be an appetite suppressant, but its use was discontinued because of its side effects. One of the things that is a potentially dangerous effect of ecstasy addiction is that it can cause dehydration. Users must consume liquids regularly during the time they are under the influence of the drug.

Dehydration can lead to the body overheating, which can in turn lead to an increase in blood pressure, kidney failure, and bleeding in the brain.

Ecstasy addiction can leave the user open to a number of other negative physical effects. These include liver disease, panic attacks, heart disease, hypertension, seizures, and diabetes.

Regular use of ecstasy or MDMA can lead to ecstasy addiction, although it is not known just how much use places the individual at risk. It is known, though, that even short term use can lead to a dependence on the drug.

How is ecstasy addiction treated? If the user has just been taking the drug for a short time, it might be possible for them to just stop on their own. This is possible because users find that the effects of the drug lessen over time. But longer term ecstasy addiction sufferers may need detox followed by behavioural therapy.

This would be accompanied by individual counselling as well as group counselling.