Ecstacy Use – Effects and Facts of the Drug MDMA

Ecstacy use has many effects on a persons behaviour and symptoms of taking this drug are evident both in the long and short term. MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or ecstacy as it is known by its common street name is one of the most widely used drugs in the world and very often associated with the club and rave scene and related music genres. It is illegal to sell MDMA in any country in the world and those caught in possession, manufacturing or selling to people who want to buy ecstasy can be criminally prosecuted and possibly end up in jail.

Common effects of taking ecstacy include euphoria, decreased hostility and feelings of being more secure, heightened feelings of intimacy towards others, empathy towards others, strong sense of self acceptance, increased physical energy and decreased appetite. There are many short term side effects related to taking the drug ecstasy which may include lockjaw, short term memory loss, involuntary teeth grinding, uncontrollable eye movements and mildly blurred vision. Most of these and other symptoms will usually pass within a few days as the drug works out of a persons system.

Long term side effects and symptoms of taking MDMA for periods of time may include chronic depression and anxiety, long term memory loss, rotting teeth and gums and liver damage. These are just a few of the known symptoms that occur through taking ecstasy over lengthened periods, it is still unknown what other damage may be caused to the physical and mental health of addicts that have been taking the drug on a continuous basis. Certain studies have linked the prolonged use of MDMA to cases of brain damage, Parkinson’s disease and severe memory loss.

A person who takes this kind of drug is at particular risk if they are combining or mixing it with other drugs. Combining certain substances with MDMA can lead to hypertensive crisis and possibly result in fatality. There have been some cases of death in individuals reported throughout the world as a result of people mixing ecstacy use with significant quantities of other drugs.