Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a drug that was specifically formulated for recreational purposes in the late 80s and early 90s. The substance is still widely used to elevate the mood of partygoers and ravers who tend to be part of a “scene”. Ecstasy works by flooding the brain with serotonin which creates a sensation of supreme happiness as the drug’s name suggests. Ecstasy is an extremely dangerous drug due to the negative effects it has on the brain and the risk of developing addiction is high.
As with all substances, the more a person uses them, the more likely they are to become addicted to them. Different substances have different potentials and ecstasy is known to have a particularly damaging effect on the brain. All substances work by influencing the brain to feel a certain way. For examples, sedatives make a person feel ultra-relaxed or drowsy, stimulants increase the heart rate and boost energy and ecstasy has its own way of creating a high.
Ecstasy specifically increases serotonin production and research shows that nerve cells are damaged after just a short period of use. Tests on rodents and primates have also shown that the damage done by high levels of serotonin is long-lasting. The demographic of ecstasy users is around the ages of 18-25, although there are naturally people who fall outside this range. This is generally an age where the brain is still developing which means that ecstasy users risk more significant brain damage than an older person using the drug.
One of the most compelling factors for people using ecstasy is how it “enhances” experiences. Oftentimes, it doesn’t even matter what the nature of that experience is. Ecstasy interrupts a person’s sensory perception to make everything intensely pleasurable. Although ecstasy addiction is complex, it can be successfully treated to allow a person to enjoy a happy substance-free life in recovery.
Casa Recovery is a specialist facility offering drug addiction treatment in Orange County. We believe that a person isn’t defined by their substance abuse and that we can help them overcome it. If you or a loved one is having difficulties with drugs and/or alcohol and have reached the stage of accepting help, contact Casa Recovery in confidence today.