WHAT IS ECSTASY?

Ecstasy (“E”) consists of MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) - a stimulant that combines the properties of methamphetamine (as in the street drug - "Crystal Meth") with mind-altering or hallucinogenic properties. 

WHAT IS IN AN ECSTASY TABLET?

Ecstasy is an illegal substance, so the manufacturers are not subject to any regulations or quality control. This means that the only way to find out exactly what is in every pill, and in what quantity, is to have it laboratory tested. 

An Ecstasy tablet is supposed to consist of MDMA. These days however, so-called “Ecstasy” usually consists of a wide range of dangerous psychoactive substances in varying amounts. Some of the substances that have been found in ‘E’ include:

• PMA (Para methamphetamine): This is a very poisonous substance already linked to many deaths

• 4MTA: A poison also linked to ‘E’ related deaths

• Amphetamines: ‘Speed’

• Caffeine: As in coffee

• LSD: ‘Acid trips’

• Ephedrine: A drug that causes rapid heart beat, dry mouth and throat and even heart attack in large doses

• Ketamine: A general anaesthetic

• Aspirin: Found in varying amounts

• Atropine: A drug often used by emergency officers in a cardiac arrest

• And many more dangerous substances!

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS OF ECSTASY?

• Blurred vision, hallucinations & visual disturbances

• Increased heart rate & blood pressure

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea & vomiting

• Muscle tension

• Heat exhaustion

• Dehydration

• Extreme nervousness

• Hyper-excitability

• Teeth grinding

• Incessant talking

• Faintness & dizziness

• Chills & sweating

• Tremors & convulsions

• Disturbed sleep & insomnia

• Loss of control over voluntary bodily movements

SOME REACTIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO PERSIST FROM 1- 14 DAYS AFTER TAKING ECSTASY.

ECSTASY CAN ALSO BE DETECTED IN THE URINE 4 DAYS AFTER USE.

WHAT DOES ECSTASY DO TO YOUR BRAIN?

Ecstasy destroys the Serotonin producing neurons in the brain. Serotonin is a necessary and essential endorphin that not only helps us to control our moods so that they are stable, but it also keeps us being very depressed all of the time.

When ‘E’ destroys these neurons, it causes a chronic depletion of brain serotonin levels and endorphin production.

When ‘E’ causes an imbalance in serotonin and endorphin levels, it radically affects the areas in the brain that regulate our:

• MOOD – causing emotional instability & making us angry, depressed or anxious

• SEXUAL DESIRE – by decreasing our libido and causing an imbalance in our hormone levels

• SLEEPING PATTERNS – causing disruptions to our sleep with disturbing dreams & frequent waking episodes

• SENSITIVITY TO PAIN - by either decreasing or increasing our pain threshold

LONG TERM NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ECSTASY - PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO DELAYED & DECREASED MEMORY FUNCTION.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SYMPTOMS OF  ‘E’- WITHDRAWAL?

• Aggression & mood swings

• Decreased sexual desire & activity

• Insomnia & disturbed sleep patterns

• Increased sensitivity to pain.

• ECSTASY AND PREGNANCY

• Ecstasy is carried directly from your blood stream into the blood stream of your baby. This puts both you - the mother and your unborn child at risk to any of the previously listed side effects.

• Ecstasy has also been known to cause miscarriage.