When it comes to tackling an addiction to MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, finding the right rehab treatment is very important for a successful recovery. MDMA is often seen in social settings like parties and music festivals, celebrated for its effects that heighten feelings of love, connection, and euphoria. However, its use can lead to serious health risks and dependency issues that necessitate professional intervention. (1)
Rehabilitation programs that are designed specifically for MDMA addiction focus on both the physical and psychological aspects of recovery. Initially, detoxification under medical supervision may be necessary to safely manage withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.
This treatment program and process ensures that individuals have a stable starting point from which they can begin their journey toward sobriety. Following this type of detoxification, therapy plays a large role in addressing the underlying reasons behind drug use while equipping individuals with strategies to resist future temptations.
What Exactly Is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy, also known by its scientific name MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), is a synthetic drug that has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.
It’s widely recognized for creating feelings of:
- Increased energy
- Pleasure
- Emotional warmth
- Distorted sensory and time perception (2)
Typically found in pill or tablet form, ecstasy often features logos from popular culture that appeal to young people attending nightclubs, music festivals, or raves where the drug is commonly used to enhance social experiences. However, it’s good to understand that despite these perceived benefits, the contents of ecstasy pills can be unpredictable. (3)
And sometimes, these pills contain harmful additives or other substances. The risks associated with taking ecstasy are significant because they impact both physical and mental health. Below are some of the effects of ecstasy abuse and use.
Short & Long-Term Effects of Ecstasy Use
Its effects can vary widely depending on factors such as dosage, purity, and individual characteristics. Here’s a detailed look at the short and long-term effects of ecstasy use.
- Euphoria: Ecstasy induces feelings of intense pleasure, euphoria, and emotional warmth, often accompanied by increased sociability and empathy towards others.
- Heightened Sensory Perception: Users may experience enhanced sensory perceptions, including intensified colors, sounds, and tactile sensations. (4)
- Increased Energy: Ecstasy stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, resulting in increased energy levels, alertness, and a reduced need for sleep. (5)
- Altered Perception of Time: Many users report a distorted sense of time, with hours feeling like minutes or vice versa.
- Jaw Clenching and Teeth Grinding: Ecstasy can cause involuntary jaw clenching and teeth grinding, known as bruxism, due to its stimulant effects.
- Dehydration: Ecstasy can lead to dehydration and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), especially in hot and crowded environments such as nightclubs or raves. (6)
- Nausea and Loss of Appetite: Some users may experience nausea, loss of appetite, or gastrointestinal discomfort after taking ecstasy.
- Dilated Pupils: Ecstasy use can result in dilated pupils, which may persist for several hours after ingestion. (7)
- Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Ecstasy is a stimulant that can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure, posing risks for individuals with cardiovascular issues or hypertension. (8)
- Risky Behaviors: Ecstasy’s disinhibiting effects may lead to engaging in risky behaviors, such as unsafe sex or driving under the influence.
Some of the long-term effects of MDMA include the following:
- Neurotoxicity: Prolonged or heavy ecstasy use has been associated with neurotoxic effects, including damage to serotonin-producing neurons in the brain. This can lead to long-lasting changes in mood, cognition, and behavior. (9)
- Mood Disorders: Chronic mdma use may increase the risk of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as disturbances in sleep patterns and emotional regulation. (10)
- Cognitive Impairment: Some research suggests that long-term ecstasy use may impair cognitive function, particularly memory, attention, and executive function. (11)
- Psychiatric Symptoms: Individuals who use ecstasy frequently or in large amounts may develop psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, or delusions, especially during periods of drug intoxication or withdrawal. (12)
- Dependency and Addiction: While ecstasy is not considered as physically addictive as some other drugs, psychological dependence, and compulsive use can develop, leading to difficulties in controlling drug intake and cravings for the drug.
- Social and Behavioral Consequences: Persistent ecstasy use can have detrimental effects on relationships, academic or occupational functioning, and overall quality of life.
It’s important to note as a disclaimer that individual responses to ecstasy can vary, and not everyone will experience all of these effects. Nonetheless, the potential risks of substance use disorder with ecstasy showcase the importance of informed decision-making and harm-reduction strategies when it comes to drug use.
MDMA/Ecstasy Addiction Rehab Treatment Options
MDMA (ecstasy) accounts for nearly 2% of all drug-related hospital emergency room visits in the United States.
A form of amphetamine and an illicit street drug, MDMA can cause dangerous side effects 45 minutes to an hour after ingestion, including:
- Hypertension
- Faintness
- Panic attacks
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures (13)
Finding an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab for MDMA is imperative to successfully living a sober, fulfilling life.
While fatal overdoses are rare, MDMA is a highly addictive substance and can cause disruption and bring danger to a person’s life. Fortunately, addiction to MDMA is highly treatable in Americans, and in the right environment and with supportive counselors and doctors, a person addicted to MDMA can find healing in a rehab for MDMA.
Are There Detox Programs for Ecstasy?
Yes. Ecstasy is a form of amphetamine, and the substance is similar to meth or cocaine. Frequently, MDMA, its street name, is taken in tablet form and is ‘cut’ with other amphetamines and sometimes caffeine. (14)
Because MDMA is usually a conglomeration of indeterminable, legal, and illegal substances, users are often confined to a detox facility while the drug works its way out of their system.
What Is the Admissions Process Like at a Residential Treatment Facility?
After placing a call for a customized treatment plan, an intake counselor or coordinator will discuss travel arrangements, types of accommodations and availability, and the patient’s insurance policy with the patient–and possibly a supportive family member or friend.
Also, if the patient qualifies for any benefits that could help with treatment costs, these will be discussed during the initial consultation.
Next, the intake counselor will also discuss with the patient the rehab for MDMA rules and regulations and what they may bring with them to the facility.
What Does a Daily Schedule Look Like for an Inpatient at a Rehab for MDMA?
Every patient enters a rehab for an MDMA facility needing specialized, customized care.
Depending on the patient’s needs, their daily schedule will contain some or all of the following in their rehab program:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Support groups
- Behavioral health Care
- Family therapy
- Holistic treatment or alternative therapies
- Free time
- Scheduled wake-up, bed, and meal times
- Fitness activities
- Daily group discussions
The key to successful ecstasy addiction treatment is support and structure, so a patient’s schedule will not deviate much once it is determined.
What Types of Holistic Treatment Options Are Available at Treatment Centers?
Addiction ravages every aspect of a person’s life, and the side effects and sometimes the causes of addiction and abuse are ‘whole-body.’ Modern and progressive treatment centers believe patients are more likely to recover successfully and prevent relapse with holistic treatment options. (15)
These encompass the facets of the patient’s overall well-being, such as prioritizing fitness and group sports for companionship. Some treatment centers believe patients respond well to things like reiki, therapy sessions, and therapeutic massage; others think the center’s location is essential. (16)
This is one of the reasons why places like southern California and Florida are home to the most rehab centers and treatment providers per capita in the United States. The sunny, scenic environments are believed to help patients recover from addiction and comorbid mental health conditions.
While drug abuse is a tragic and destructive force, a caring and therapeutic drug rehabilitation center can help families and their loved ones heal from MDMA addiction. (17)
MDMA: An Illegal and Addictive Substance We Effectively Treat
Since MDMA is an illegal drug, the full ingredient list for the street supply is simply impossible to know. Often, amphetamines, meth, or even caffeine are added to the mix of “ecstasy”. This can complicate the detox process, but our well-trained staff will deal with each person’s needs with skill and medical backing.
Since long-time molly users can become depressed to the point of feeling suicidal, Zinnia Health’s clinically supervised MDMA detox can ease the transition, offering the care you need for a drug addiction.
Call Zinnia Health to get started on your substance abuse treatment—we’re available 24/7 to listen to your needs—you don’t have to begin this process alone. Pick up the phone and let us describe how we can put together the perfect plan to find a new life, away from the drug MDMA. Your call will prove your courage to take the first step. Contact us today at (855) 430-9439.
Citations
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/how-are-mdma-use-disorders-treated
- https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/mdma-ecstasymolly
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8899057/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6997554/
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-are-mdmas-effects-on-brain
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5008716/
- https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/drugs-and-drug-use/common-drugs/mdma-ecstasy/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882794/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071023/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556104/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525102/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8732862/
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-are-effects-mdma
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-mdma
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4147026/
- https://windwardway.com/mdma-ecstasy/
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