Download Ecstasy: and its prevalence among 18

Ecstasy: and its prevalence
among 18-25 year olds
Dosage and Pills
 Doses range from 50-250mg but are most
commonly taken between 100-150mg
 Drastic profit margin ( about 25 cents to
create pill and sells for up to $40 )
 However, often other substances get mixed
with the MDMA while creating the pills such
as ketamine and ephedrine
 One study showed that 36% of confiscated
MDMA pills actually contained no traces of
the MDMA itself
Background Information
 The FDA classified MDMA ( 3,4-methylenodioxymethamphetamine ) as a Schedule I compound,
making it illegal, in 1985
 Ever since the 1990’s it has become a global
threat and has proven to be the most popular
club drug in both the United States and Europe
 The NIDA ( National Institute on Drug Abuse )
has recorded its use to be growing exponentially
at alarming rates in 18-25 year olds.
Prevalence
Under the Influence
 At 20 minutes after consuming the drug, the
participant begins to feel a ‘’rush’’ of
increased activation and arousal. Physically,
their heart rate, papillary diameter, oral
temperature, and blood pressure will increase
 During the climax at around 3-4 hours, one
would feel a heightened sense of awareness,
a sense of euphoria, tranquility, perception
alteration, increased sociability, and an
intense sense of empathy towards others.
Physical Effects
 MDMA affects the serotonin, norepinephrine,
dopamine, and acetylcholine receptors, as well
as the serotonin and dopamine transporters
 Neurodegeneration of serotonin binding sites
correlates with repeated use, however, studies
have revealed it can occur after taking MDMA
only once
 Other common effects include nausea, blurred
vision, palpitations, sweating, dry mouth,
muscular tension, motor restlesness, and
impaired sexual performance
Cognitive Effects
 Common effects are anxiety, agitation,
depersonalization, ‘’flight of ideas’’
 At high doses, when the drug is being
metabolized, effects such as panic attacks,
hallucinations, and brief psychosis can occur
 When someone is coming down from the
drug they may experience a sense of apathy,
anhedonia, fatigue, depression, insomnia,
and a reduced appetite.
Severe Cases
 Hyperthermia – elevated body temperature ( usually






caused by extrinisic effects, e.g. dancing )
Hepatotoxicity – chemical-driven liver damage
Cardiac arrythmias – disruption of heart’s normal
rhythmn
Seizures
Rhabdomyolysis – rapid breakdown of skeletal
muscle
Death
These severe cases are usually caused by a condition
known as serotonin syndrome, which is the dramatic
increase of serotonin in the CNS
Severe Cases (cont’d)
 Due to the extrinsic effects usually experienced
while taking ecstasy (raves/clubs) people try to
compensate for the heat and consume too much
water
 This results in:
 Cerebral Edema - an excess accumulation of
water in the intracellular and/or extracellular
spaces of the brain
 Hyponatremia - metabolic condition in which
there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body
fluids outside the cells.
Lasting Effects
 Further neurodegeneration of serotonin
receptors
 Lack of serotonin in cerebrospinal fluid
- Because of this users further experienced
feelings of depression, compulsion,
impulsivity, novelty-seeking behaviors, and a
reduction of sleep, appetite, and libido
 Extrinsic difficulties included financial loss,
interpersonal difficulties, and impaired
occupational functioning
Conclusive Evidence
 While the ‘’high’’ of the drug is pretty
climactic with intense euphoria, empathy
towards other and increased sexual desire,
coming off the drug is a polar opposite
resulting in paranoia, detachment, and brief
psychosis
 Because of its popularity among 18-25 year
olds, ecstasy can become a gateway drug to
more harmful drugs later in life
Age at Onset of Other Drug Use Compared With Age at
Onset of Ecstasy Use (in Percentages)
Drug
Younger
Same age
Older
Alcohol
94.81
3.26
1.93
Marijuana
88.31
6.49
5.20
LSD
37.35
17.41
45.24
Cocaine
35.92
12.39
51.69
Crack
8.74
3.11
88.15
Heroin
4.51
2.86
92.63
Inhalants
34.41
7.65
57.94
Stimulants
24.67
8.63
67.00