Erroneously called the love drug, ecstasy is considered a new drug and is well known among people who go out at night, especially in raves. Ecstasy causes a feeling of euphoria and pleasure. According to some people who have tried the drug, you are overcome by a feeling of lightness, joy and power.
Ecstasy was invented in 1914 in research with fast-acting antidepressants. It started to be used 10 years ago in England and today it is consumed in general by young people of middle class. The traffic does not come from the hills of the favelas: most of the time, it takes place inside some parties.
But the danger lies precisely in that feeling of power that the drug gives. This “well-being”, joy and a lot of energy is like an “illusion” that the brain goes through. Suddenly, a person takes the drug and is dancing for about 5 hours, but often they do not have the physical preparation to withstand such agitation. It is not uncommon for some people to have a fever or a cold the next day. That’s because the drug decreases the body’s resistance.
It is very wrong to think that just because ecstasy is a “weekend drug”, it is not addictive. Yes it is addictive! Ecstasy is an amphetamine, a drug synthesized in the laboratory. Amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant. In other words, it makes you “turned on” for longer than normal, performing activities and discarding rest. But this tiredness appears after the drug leaves the body. When the user is taking the drug again, the energy comes at a lower intensity. Then, of course, the person will take a much larger dose next time. The person’s organism becomes more and more tolerant to the drug and then it becomes a lot of snow. When less imagined, the person has already become dependent.
The drug can cause euphoria, disinhibition, anxiety and an intense feeling of sociability. However, there are cases where the effects are just the opposite: instead of pleasure, the person may be overcome by a feeling of paranoia and panic, in addition to profound depression.
Once ingested, ecstasy begins to take effect after 20 to 60 minutes. In addition to psychic, it causes physical effects: increased blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, decreased appetite, dilated pupils and dry mouth. Metabolism accelerates, and for that reason, the body temperature increases, reaching up to 40º. This is one of the reasons why consumers drink liters and liters of water while dancing. The view is also sensitive to light, which is why many wear sunglasses.
In fact, the heat caused by the drug is the most discussed side effect, and if the body temperature rises too much, it can cause seizures and lead the user to death. To quench their thirst, people abuse water. But here comes the dilemma: if you drink a lot of water, the user will not be able to control the urine and if he doesn’t drink a lot of water, he may suffer from dehydration !!
Remembering that as the drug is part of the group of amphetamines, the effects of this also serve for ecstasy: serious damage to the liver, heart, brain and neuron degeneration, in addition to the possibility of psychic symptoms such as paranoia, aggression, phobic anxiety, insomnia , etc. Depression and memory loss are other side effects. That is, because it is a chemical drug, that is, produced in the laboratory, the effects of this and so many other drugs may not be as pleasant as many people think!
More about Ecstasy
Known as the love drug, ecstasy is derived from amphetamine (MDMA, the same active ingredient in LSD), having a stimulating and hallucinogenic effect. In recent years, the drug has gained ground thanks to the popularity of raves and electronic music, which create favorable environments for its consumption.
Ecstasy – or simply “e” – increases the concentration of dopamine (stimulant) and serotonin (the substance responsible for emotions) in the brain. The drug is consumed in tablets of different colors and sizes and its effects appear 20 to 60 minutes after consumption, and can last up to 10 hours.
Ecstasy causes euphoria, a feeling of intimacy, increased empathy and a great desire to talk and touch others, which justifies the nickname “love drug”. The drug can also generate auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations. Dry mouth, nausea, excessive sweating, decreased hunger, cramps, insomnia, jaw spasm and increased heart rate and blood pressure are the effects that ecstasy can cause on the body.
Frequent and large doses of the drug can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia. Death from ecstasy use is rare, but it can happen. The uncontrolled increase in body temperature and pressure can cause dehydration (due to intense sweating), acute fever (which may pass 41º), seizures and kidney failure, with risk of death. The risk is higher for people who are hypertensive or have heart problems, but you can never fool around. And when consumed with alcoholic beverages, ecstasy becomes dangerous.
