Ecstasy

Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine), most commonly known today by the street name Ecstasy (often abbreviated E, X, or XTC), is a semi synthetic member of the amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs, a subclass of the phenethylamines. Ecstasy also falls under many other broad categories of substances, including stimulants, psychedelics, and the empathogenic entactogens.

Be free from ecstasy with Teen Challenges help, contact us today!

Ecstasy’s experiential effects are more consistent than those produced by most psychedelics, and its euphoria appears to be distinct from most stimulants. It is also considered unusual for its tendency to produce a sense of intimacy with others and diminished feelings of fear and anxiety. These effects have led some to suggest it might have therapeutic benefits to some individuals. Before it was made a controlled substance, Ecstasy was used to aid psychotherapy, often couples therapy, the results of which are poorly documented. Studies have also recently been initiated to examine the therapeutic potential of Ecstasy for post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety associated with cancer.

Ecstasy is criminalized in all countries in the world under a UN agreement, and its possession, manufacture, or sale may result in criminal prosecution. Ecstasy is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world and is taken in a variety of contexts far removed from its roots in psychotherapeutic settings. It is commonly associated with the rave culture and its related genres of music.

There have been debates within science, health care, and drug policy circles about the risks of ecstasy, specifically the possibility of neuro toxic damage to the central nervous system. Some have suggested that the risks of even single doses of ecstasy outweigh its potential benefits. Others argue that these concerns are based on inconclusive evidence and that ecstasy deserves further study. Regulatory authorities in several locations around the world have approved studies administering ecstasy to humans to examine either its therapeutic potential or, more commonly, its basic effects.

Fill in our free consultation form, where you can tell us more about yourself and your ecstasy problems. You will receive a personal assessment of your addiction and how we can help. Then one of our Counselors will then contact you to arrange an interview. 

Effects of chronic use

The long-term health effects of ecstasy use are generally not well-known, and the research that has been devoted to addressing the relevant issues thus far has been largely inconclusive. The primary concern is generally that there may be negative long-term consequences that result from the drug's alleged neuro toxic effects on serotonergic neurons. Some further studies have also shown that this damage causes increased rates of depression and anxiety, even after quitting the drug. In addition to this, some studies have indicated that ecstasy may cause long-term memory and cognition impairment. Many factors, including total lifetime ecstasy consumption, the duration of abstinence between uses, the environment of use, poly-drug use/abuse, quality of mental health, various lifestyle choices, and predispositions to develop clinical depression and other disorders may contribute to various possible health consequences. Ecstasy use has been occasionally associated with liver damage, excessive wear of teeth, and (very rarely) hallucinogen persisting perception disorder.

Ecstasy has complex effects, interacting with several neuro chemical systems. It induces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine release, and can act directly on a number of receptors, including adrenaline and serotonin receptors. Ecstasy promotes the release of several hormones including prolactin, oxytocin, ACTH, DHEA, and the anti diuretic hormone vasopressin (which may be important in its occasional production of water intoxication or hyponatremia).

It is not fully understood why ecstasy induces these unusual psychoactive effects. Most explanations focus on serotonin release. Ecstasy causes serotonin vesicles in the neurons to release quantities of serotonin into the synapses. From studies using pretreatment with an SSRI to block the ability of ecstasy to release serotonin in volunteers, we know that serotonin release is necessary for most effects of ecstasy in humans. Released serotonin is believed to stimulate several receptors that contribute to the experiential effects of ecstasy. Laboratory rodent experiments have shown ecstasy to activate oxytocin-containing neurons in the hypothalamus by stimulating our receptors. This appears to contribute to some of the social effects of ecstasy: upon administering a drug that blocked brain receptors for oxytocin, the effects of the drug on social behavior were reduced. A second serotonin receptor, our receptors (which are important for the effects of hallucinogens), makes mild contributions to ecstasy effects. When the receptor was blocked, volunteers given ecstasy reported decreases in ecstasy-induced perceptual changes, emotional excitation, and acute adverse responses. In contrast, blocking these receptors had little effect on ecstasy-induced positive mood, well-being, extroversion, and most short-term. One possible explanation for some of these effects is that stimulation induces dopamine release.

Although serotonin is important to the effects of ecstasy, other drugs that release serotonin, such as fenfluramine, do not have effects like ecstasy. This indicates that other neuro chemical systems must be important for the ecstasy experience. In addition to serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline may play important roles in producing ecstasy effects. The dopaminergic D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol selectively reduced the euphoric effects of ecstasy in volunteers while increasing feelings of anxiety. Although not yet examined in humans, several studies in rodents indicate the noradrenergic mechanisms contribute to the stimulating effects of ecstasy. Finally, currently unexplored effects of ecstasy may turn out to be important, such as trace amine receptors.

The effects of ecstasy on regional cerebral blood flow have been studied in humans using Positron Emission Tomography ecstasy was found to produce alteration of brain activity in cortical, limbic, and paralimbic structures. The dose of ecstasy, 1.7 mg/kg, was psychoactive and participants reported heightened mood, increased extroversion, feelings of altered reality, and mild perceptual alterations. Feelings of "extraversion" correlated with CBF in the temporal cortex, amygdala, and orbitofrontal cortex.

Get free help with Teen Challenge

If you think you — or a friend — may be addicted to ecstasy, talk to Teen Challenge. We can help you get the help you need free of charge. It's especially important for someone who is going through withdrawal to speak with our professional counselor. Withdrawal can be dangerous when it's not monitored; all our services are free for any type of drug withdrawal.

Privacy Policy - Help for Parents - Management Team - Photo Gallerys - Drugs & The Law - Contact Us