Ecstasy, also known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is an artificial drug with hallucinogenic and stimulant properties. It is known by its numerous street names, such as X, XTC, E, Adam, clarity, hub, love and beans. It can be taken either orally in capsule and tablet forms, or by injection using a syringe.
Ecstasy is a popular drug among teenagers because it is available in many clubs. If you are fond of going out to clubs or raves with your friends, it is possible you have encountered this drug. While you have the freedom to take everything that comes your way, keep in mind that you need to take responsibility for your actions, both good and bad. Your curiosity should not dupe you into thinking that you can try this drug on a whim and be perfectly fine. If you suspect you or someone you know is abusing the drug, help is just a call away. Give us a call on for expert advice on your Ecstasy addiction treatment.
Prevalence of Ecstasy Use Among Youth
According to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number of teenagers abusing Ecstasy has gone down over the past 10 years. The percentage of students in 8th grade who have tried Ecstasy has dropped from 5.2 in 2001 to 3.3 percent in 2010. The same pattern is observed among students in 10th and 12th grades. However, a slight increase in the number of 8th and 10th graders abusing ecstasy is noted between 2009 and 2010.
Signs of Teen Ecstasy Addiction
As with other types of psychoactive drugs, addiction to Ecstasy can vary from one person to another. There is no evidence showing one person becomes addicted to the drug after taking it a specific number of times. The two factors affecting a person’s vulnerability for addiction to Ecstasy are their genes and the environment.
Parents can have a hard time figuring out whether their teens are addicted to Ecstasy or not. However, more often than not, teens display some signs of addiction that parents can watch out for. Once addiction is suspected, parents can then seek help from outside sources to treat the problem, one of which is a teen ecstasy rehab center.
Here are a few signs of teen Ecstasy addiction parents can watch out for:
- Absenteeism: Teens skipping class is a subtle sign that something is wrong. If a teen no longer wants to attend school, his or her attention must have been drawn to something else.
- Getting home late at night or early in the morning: Raves normally occur either extremely late at night or very early in the morning. Parents should consider the presence of Ecstasy abuse if their teen is often going to raves.
- Irritable behavior: Teenagers may exhibit mild to severe irritability the day after they use Ecstasy.
- Use of a baby pacifier: One short-term effect of Ecstasy is teeth clenching. Thus, abusers use baby pacifiers to reduce their discomfort.
- Sleeping difficulties: This may be a good indication that a teenager is into Ecstasy abuse.
- Use of children’s vitamin bottles: Teenagers often hide their Ecstasy pills in these containers to avoid detection by their parents.
- Use of tootsie rolls: Teens sometimes use tootsie rolls to disguise their Ecstasy use. They insert Ecstasy pills inside tootsie rolls so they can take Ecstasy anywhere without being noticed.
Side Effects of Teen Ecstasy Addiction
For the majority of users, the effect of Ecstasy can last from three to six hours following use. Fifteen minutes after taking the drug, it will reach the brain and bloodstream. Approximately 45 minutes later, the user will experience a euphoric feeling, or “high,” the time when the drug’s effect is at its optimum level. One very noticeable effect of Ecstasy to its user is hyperactivity. This state of alertness goes along with elevated mood, increased esteem, enhanced communication and increased self-insight.
At clubs following raves, Ecstasy takers can dance without interruption for hours. Some users lose their sense of time and appreciation of the world around them. Other users experience ill effects immediately after taking Ecstasy. These can include agitation, anxiety, chills and sweating, faintness and dizziness.
The negative effects of Ecstasy abuse in adolescents can be extremely dangerous. If you are a parent of a teenager abusing Ecstasy, the health of your child may be greatly compromised. Worse, your child may experience an overdose, which can at times be deadly.
Other side effects of Ecstasy abuse among teens are the following:
- Physiological issues: Involuntary and forceful clenching of the teeth, bleary vision, rapid eye movement, nausea, muscle spasm, rash, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, chills, sweating and faintness.
- Psychological issues: Confusion, depression, sleeping difficulties, cravings, paranoia, hallucination, memory reduction and even psychosis.
- Increased body temperature, also known as hyperthermia: This problem may be aggravated by fiery environments typical at raves. As such, the possibility for liver, kidney and cardiovascular damage is real.
- Water intoxication, or hyponatremia: This occurs when the level of sodium in the blood increases too much.
When taken in large doses, Ecstasy can pose serious threat to the body. The same is true when users take several small doses briefly one after another to maintain the high. Seizures may occur if the amount of the drug in the bloodstream goes beyond the permissible level. Another risk is that the heart will lose its ability to maintain its normal rhythm.
Ecstasy Addiction Treatment for Teens
If you feel you are caught up in an addiction to Ecstasy, don’t lose hope. Help may be just around the corner. To successfully break free from the bondage of your addiction, seek professional help as soon as possible. Long-term inpatient treatment has shown impressive results in the past. The longer you stay in an inpatient facility, the greater your chances for recovery and the lower your risk for relapse. Please feel free to call our helpline at to speak with an expert advisor for reference to a reliable inpatient treatment center.
