Ecstasy – Now trending as a drug of choice amongst youth in India
Marijuana, alcohol, inhalants, cough syrup and prescription drugs have been prevalent in India for a long time.
Since last few years, new ‘designer drugs’ have become popular. Ecstasy is one of them.
What is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that is also known as MDMA. It has psychoactive properties and is a stimulant. A person can take it as a capsule or a tablet, and it is often found in clubs and party scenes throughout India.
Signs and Symptoms
The short-term side effects of ecstasy include mental stimulation, emotional warmth and increased physical energy. Enhanced sensory perception is also a potential side effect. This means that a person taking the drug may seem to be very friendly, hyperactive or full of energy. In a way, it is ideal in party settings wherein a person after taking the drug can dance tirelessly, make friends and have long friendly interactions.
Adverse symptoms of ecstasy use may include:
• Nausea • Chills • Sweating • Blurred vision • Muscle cramps • Clenching of the teeth
Ecstasy also disrupts the body’s normal regulation of temperature. This can lead to hyperthermia and can sometimes be lethal.
Effects of Ecstasy Abuse
Ecstasy is abused by taking a tablet or capsule of the drug. The drug is a synthetic psychoactive chemical mix that is similar to methamphetamine and mescaline. It commonly gives users feelings of euphoria, distortions in time, distortions in perception, and a warm feeling of well being.
This illicit substance is common and popular in the nightclubs, discos and rave parties. Sometimes, MDMA is used along with other drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine and Viagra.
Ecstasy can produce a number of long-term effects that are detrimental to the body. These include:
- Confusion
- Depression
- Sleep problems
- Severe anxiety
- Cravings for the drug
A user may crave the drug after only taking it a few times, which is indicative of its addictive properties. Chronic users of Ecstasy show poor performance on cognitive or memory tasks.
When the substance is withdrawan from the persons addicted to Ecstasy, the addicts exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, a loss of appetite, lack of concentration and depression.
The effects of Ecstasy use are similar to stimulants. Some of these symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Muscle tension
- Faintness
- Chills
- Sweating
- High heart rate
- High blood pressure
These symptoms are particularly dangerous for those with circulatory problems or heart disease.
Ecstasy Abuse Treatment
Ecstasy drug abuse treatment is available for those who suffer from addiction. There are no drug treatments for addiction to ecstasy, only medical management of withdrawal symptoms. Hope Trust employs the basic principles of 12 Steps, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention for effective treatment at its drug abuse rehab in India.
Ecstasy Statistics
There are no statistics available for Ecstasy use in India. However, inpatient and outpatient trends at Hope Trust drug abuse rehab indicate a increasing use of the drug amongst youth in India.
Teen Ecstasy Abuse
Teen agers are highly vulnerable to drug abuse. It is a time in their lives where they are likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol and may be meet new people. They want to explore and experiment. This age group often attends parties and goes to clubs where drugs are available.
To help prevent your teenage child from using drugs, talk to him or her about the facts about drugs, how they are highly addictive and ultimately lead to huge problems. The best way to prevent drug use is to make sure your child is informed about drug abuse facts and how the drug can be detrimental to the body and mind.
As a parent, make sure that you know the signs of drug abuse. To read more about the signs and symptoms of drug abuse in your child, click here.