What is ecstasy?
Ecstasy is the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. It has street names of X, XTC, Clarity, and Lover's Speed. It has similar effects of other common stimulants and amphetamines. The drug can be taken in a number of ways, but is most commonly taken orally through tablets and pills.
The drug alters the levels of serotonin in the brain which carries signals to one portion of the brain or another. Ecstasy alters the mood and emotions of the person who is taken it. It heightens senses and gives feelings of euphoria. The drug can lead to kidney failure, dehydration, hypertension, and many other negative effects. Inability to sleep, exhaustion, and depression often follow use of Ecstasy. A typical dose will last between 3 and 6 hours.
This drug is becoming more and more common among teens and adolescents. It is very popular in dances, raves, and other social gatherings of teens. The drug has been around for more than 20 years. It is often referred to as the "club drug."
Parents can help prevent this Ecstasy abuse among teens by openly talking to their children about it. Discuss the harmful effects of the drug both physically and mentally. If you teen feels like he can openly discuss issues with you, he will turn to you for help instead of his peers and friends.
Signs of teenage ecstasy abuse:
- Hyper alertness
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Increased heart rate
- Jaw clenching
- Hyperthermia
- Agitation
- Increased emotional responses (more empathetic than the individual would normally be)
USA Today reported in 2002 that "The number of teenagers using the club drug Ecstasy could double in five years and is rising at such an alarming rate that leading anti-drug advocates will launch a campaign against it Monday. In a survey of 6,937 teens nationwide last year by the Partnership for a Drug Free America, 12% say they have tried Ecstasy at least once. That's up from 10% in 2000 and 5% in 1995. Despite recent studies indicating that Ecstasy impairs memory and damages the brain, many kids continue to see it as a harmless "peace and love" drug. Partnership research indicates an additional 11% of the teen population is likely to try it in the next five years."