Author: Alex Thompson

Is MDMA Addictive? National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA

This myth comes from messages broadcast by anti-drug campaigns in the late 1990s/early 2000s. MDMA has also been shown to have vastly positive results in couples therapy, with some couples claiming partaking in MDMA-assisted therapy significantly helped them in their relationship and even as individuals. Suppression of appetiteCommonly reported – an almost complete loss of appetite or desire to consume any food. Spotting fake ecstasy can be very difficult because it can look exactly like the real drug and look different depending on where you get it from.

There is strong evidence from brain imaging studies suggesting that most changes in the brain areas affected by MDMA (serotonergic system) are not long term. It is also possible impulsive personality-types could make someone more likely to take MDMA, rather than being caused by drug use. A similar confusion is found with the link between MDMA and depression. Some studies have suggested that MDMA can contribute to depression, though some have found that those with depression may be more likely to later take MDMA. If you have pills it is almost impossible to know how much dosage is in each pill. In this case, after testing the pill with a reagent test, start with a small amount (a quarter to a half of a pill) as there is no standardisation of dosages across pills.

Effects of Regular MDMA Use

If the colour change corresponds to the correct drug on the chart, you know the substance you have is actually MDMA (in this example). Reagent tests can pick up the presence of dangerous chemicals like PMA/PMMA. This is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure the drug you have is actually what you think it is, and to make sure you aren’t taking something which could kill you. It is essential to test any and all substances before taking them.

Ecstasy should not be taken with other substances like alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana due to its raised risk of health effects. Even small doses of ecstasy can harm your mental, physical, or emotional well-being. In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Administration placed MDMA on Schedule I, the list of strictly-banned drugs defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse Research Report

Although there are no medications to help with addiction to ecstasy, some people who have had issues with ecstasy have reported that behavioral therapy can help. Behavioral therapy teaches you skills to better manage the situations that trigger your need to use ecstasy. When you begin to feel the effects of ecstasy like changes to the way you see the world around you, a familiar environment can provide you with a sense of security to know where you are. There is never a good time to take an illegal substance or misuse it.

The only way to really know whether you have ecstasy or not is by testing it with a kit. Yes, you can buy MDMA online through social media, forums, and the Dark Web. Buying MDMA online can lead to serious personal and legal consequences. MDMA powder, also called “Molly,” is a crystalline substance that may be white, gray, yellow, purple, or light brown. This powder may be dissolved into a liquid solution of similar color.

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, mandy or molly, is a drug of the stimulant class but which also can have mild hallucinogenic properties. MDMA’s common effects include euphoria, increased energy and a vastly heightened sense of empathy. When MDMA is taken in tablet or capsule form, a person begins feeling the effects 45 minutes later, on average. Reagent tests are legal chemicals which offer an easy colour-based test for drugs.

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2. It takes about 45 minutes or longer to feel the effects of ecstasy.
3. The brain requires a certain level of serotonin to regulate normal functions like mood and sleep, and struggles if the supply is too low.
4. After an MDMA experience many users report feeling fatigue, anxiety or low mood in the days or sometimes 1-4 weeks to come.
5. The effects of raised heart rate through tightened blood vessels raises heart rate even further.

Anecdotal evidence suggests higher doses of MDMA only increase the energising effects of the drug, not the emotional or euphoric effects. Unpleasant sensations like feeling overly hot, anxious, over-stimulated or confused are more likely to occur on higher doses and are far more likely to overshadow the positive effects users’ feel. Increased thirst levelsUsers can feel thirstier than normal whilst under the influence – a result of the fact MDMA affects the body’s internal balance system (homeostasis). Coupled with the fact urination becomes more difficult, users must ensure they do not consume too much fluid or risk over-hydrated their bodies.

What’s The Difference Between Meth & MDMA?

MDMA, also known as ecstasy or “molly,” is an addictive substance. It’s considered a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse. For most people, it is hard to know what to think when considering the possible long term harms of MDMA. In addition, anyone with serotonin syndrome or who is known to be sensitive to serotonin should not take MDMA. Anyone with heart, blood pressure, liver or kidney issues should steer clear of MDMA, along with anyone on any medication which affects serotonin or adrenaline levels (like antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs and MAOIs). When a person snorts MDMA through the nose, it quickly enters the blood vessels and the body.

What Is Ecstasy?

The drug itself is not the treatment but rather enables therapy to be more effective. Attempts to self-treat with MDMA could do more harm than good in the absence of a professional therapist trained in MDMA psychotherapy. Studies by David Nutt and Imperial College London have shown MDMA-assisted therapy to have significant potential in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism. Various other studies seem to back-up MDMA’s potential for treating PTSD and also its positive use in psychiatry. Ensuring what you have is actually MDMAIf you are consuming MDMA in any form — be they pills, powder or crystals — it is essential to test the substance with a reagent test before consuming any of it.

MDMA, also known as molly and ecstasy, is an illicit psychoactive drug that shares certain pharmacological properties of both hallucinogens and stimulants. The journey to recovery can take time, and it’s important to navigate it with professional help. If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance abuse disorder, seek professional help. Reaching out for help from friends and family can be a great way to gain support.

One of these particularly dangerous compounds is PMA – a drug similar in structure to MDMA but with far less of the positive effects and far more negative effects at lower doses. PMA has caused a number of deaths since ecstasy rose in popularity in the underground drug scene, and sometimes ecstasy pills contain PMA instead of MDMA. If you are an MDMA user read our PMA harm reduction guide to make sure you are staying safe.

Molly—slang for “molecular”—refers to the crystalline powder form of MDMA, usually sold as powder or in capsules. Some people mistakenly believe that Molly does not contain contaminants often found in ecstasy. In fact, chemical analyses of drugs sold as Molly and seized by the U.S. High blood pressure/Heart rateMDMA has two effects on the body’s heart and blood pressure systems.

Some pills have been found to contain 0% MDMA and some close to 100%. Perceptual changesHeightened perception of colour, increased appreciation of music or sounds, blurred vision, mild colour hallucinations in some users. Powder can either be snorted or swallowed, and pills and crystals are swallowed. Some of the slang terms for MDMA include molly, ecstasy, XTC, hug drug, and e-bomb. Pills come in many shapes and bright solid colors with a design stamped on them (usually on both sides).