 |
 |
 |
| Drug Information - Drug Information | |||
 Ecstasy ( XTC) (MDMA) drug addiction treatment Drug treatment programs for Ecstasy drug addiction follow the same principles that are effective for drug addiction treatment and alcohol addiction treatment. Drug addiction recovery support groups are effective in combination with drug treatment programs to support long-term, drug-free addiction recovery. Ecstasy is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is chemically similar to amphetamines and mescaline. It produces feelings of euphoria, emotional warmth, and distortions in time, perception and experience. It has been described as like LSD, without the hallucinations. MDMA (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is it's chemical name. It is a derivative of amphetamine, hence its being called a designer drug. These derivatives are largely manufactured in clandestine (backyard) labs. Purity and actual content of the drug varies greatly increasing the risks to those who use it. Ecstasy Street Names include: STP - Love Drug - Drug of America - Mellow- XTC - Adam - Eve Ecstasy UseEcstasy is taken orally as a capsule or tablet. It was initially popular among teenagers and young adults in the nightclub scene or at weekend-long dance parties known as raves. However, the profile of the typical ecstasy user has changed, and the drug now affects a broader range of the population. Ecstasy is also popular among urban gay males--some report using ecstasy as part of a multiple-drug experience that includes marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and other legal and illegal substances. It is highly underrated for its serious and dangerous side-effects, because the public at large is uninformed. One of the largest risks is the fact that the user of XTC, never really knows the strength or composition of what they are taking. Signs of Using XTC ( Ecstasy)Hyper-Active Pupils get dilated Unnatural perspiration Rapid Weight Loss Insomnia - Long Hours of Sleep after rave parties XTC ( Crash after rave parties) Dry Mouth Disappearing for long periods of time Aggressiveness Ecstasy EffectsEcstasy can produce confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur anytime from immediately on ingesting to weeks after the last use. Users of Ecstasy tend to perform worse than nonusers on certain types of cognitive or memory tasks, some of these may have to do with the use of other drugs, but not all. Research indicates that Ecstasy can be harmful to the brain--one study showed that short term exposure to Ecstasy, less than 4 days, caused damage that was still evident 6 to 7 years later. Ecstasy is not a safe drug for human consumption and has never been approved or tested by any council for use by humans. Ecstasy Addictive Potential( Ecstasy Addiction)For some people, Ecstasy can be addictive. A survey found that 43 percent of those who reported ecstasy use met the diagnostic criteria for dependence, continued use despite knowledge of harmful effects, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance to the drug. Ecstasy associated withdrawal symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, and trouble concentrating. A recovering ecstasy addict once said, "Ecstasy took my strength, my motivation, my dreams, my friends, my apartment, my money and most of all, my sanity. I worry about my future and my health every day. I've been given a second chance, and that's not something that everyone gets." Ecstasy Health EffectsEcstasy can be dangerous and, on rare occasions, lethal. Ecstasy can have many of the same effects as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, which present risks for people with circulatory problems or heart disease. In high doses, Ecstasy can interfere with the body's ability to regulate internal temperature. On occasion, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can result in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular failure or even death.. Other drugs that are chemically similar to Ecstasy, such as MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine, the parent drug of Ecstasy) and PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine, associated with fatalities in the United States and Australia), are sometimes also sold as Ecstasy. These drugs can be toxic and create additional risks to the user. Ecstasy tablets may be adulterated with other substances, such as ephedrine (a stimulant); dextromethorphan (DXM, a cough suppressant); ketamine (an anesthetic used mostly by veterinarians); caffeine; cocaine; and methamphetamine. Although the combination of Ecstasy with one or more of these drugs may be dangerous, users might also combine these with other substances such as marijuana and alcohol, putting themselves at even higher risk.Impact of ecstasyThe fight against Ecstasy us is a long and slippery one; its roots are imbedded in the American pop culture and it is one fight that is proving futile. Despite its widespread ban, it is common fact that Ecstasy seized in the U.S. is primarily manufactured in underground laboratories in the Netherlands and Belgium. Transferred through Germany and Poland and smuggled into the U.S. via human carriers, by air/sea cargo, luggage, or even by express mail, Ecstasy is available in practically most large cities in the U.S namely: Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, with Florida leading the pack with the highest reported Ecstasy related seizures. Canada is also a huge source for the drug. An international drug trafficking organization was identified by Operation Candy Box, as smuggling into the country, one million Ecstasy tablets monthly.
|
| Random Content | |
