Download ECSTASY AKA MDMA MDMA is a “mood elevator”

Kathy Watt
presentation for the LA County HIV Drug & Alcohol Task Force
October 6, 2010
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?
 MDMA takes effect 20 to 40 minutes after taking
tablet, with little rushes of exhilaration which can be
accompanied by nausea
 60 to 90 minutes after taking the drug the user feels
the peak effects.
EFFECTS (cont.)
 Sensations are enhanced and the user experiences
hightened feelings of empathy, emotional warmth,
and self-acceptance.
 The “effects” of real ecstasy sbside after about 3-5
hours.
 Users report that the experience is very pleasant and
highly controlled.
EFFECTS (cont.)
 The effect that makes MDMA different from other
drugs is empathy, the sensation of understanding
and accepting others.
WHAT IS THE DOSAGE?
 Ecstasy “E” is almost always swallowed as a tablet or
capsule. A normal does is around 100-125 mg.
 Black market ecstasy “E” tablets vary widely in
strength, and often contain other drugs in their mix.
 Ecstasy call also be labeled in a variety of ways to make
it seemingly more trendy (different labels on the pill
coating)
IS ECSTASY ADDICTIVE?
Ecstasy is not physically addictive. However , the
drug can often take on great importance in
people’s lives, and some people become rather
compulsive in their use. Taken too frequently,
however, MDMA loses its special effect.
MDMA releases the brain chemical serotonin,
elevating mood and acting as a short term
antidepressant. Some users may be using the drug
to self-medicate for depression.
ECSTASY and DEPRESSION
 Many people report feeling depressed after taking
ecstasy. More often than not the depression is mild
and lasts only a day or two.
 Regular users sometimes report feeling depressed for
much longer periods of time (especially if taking larger
doses)
 The vast majority of ecstasy users do not report
symptoms of depression
WHAT CAUSES SOME USERS TO FEEL DEPRESSED
AND OTHERS NOT?
 A Possible Physiological Explanation
 MDMA “Ecstasy” works by releasing from certain brain
cells large amounts of the brain chemical, serotonin.
This release of serotonin is what causes Ecstasy’s mood
elevation effect, as well as the feelings of empathy, selfacceptance, and emotional closeness with others that so
many people find valuable and rewarding about the
drug.
WHAT CAUSES SOME USERS TO FEEL DEPRESSED
AND OTHERS NOT? (cont.)
But in releasing large amounts of serotonin,
MDMA also depletes the brain’s supply. It then
takes some time for the brain to replenish what
was released. How long does it take for serotonin
levels to be fully restored after someone takes
Ecstasy? This depends on the persons diet, general
health, genetic make-up, how much ecstasy the
person took and other random factors. Scientists
say anywhere from 48 hours to a week.
WHAT CAUSES SOME USERS TO FEEL DEPRESSED
AND OTHERS NOT? (cont.)
 A Possible Physiological Explanation (cont.)
The release of serotonin, however, also causes
serotonin receptors in the brain to down-regulate,
meaning they turn themselves off for awhile. The
effect of turning the receptors on and off can cause the
“balance” of the brain to be off until the serotonin can
once again find the balance.
IT COULD BE A PREEXISTING DEPRESSION
 Some ecstasy users who experience depression might
have been depressed before they started ecstasy.
Depression is a common illness that often goes
undiagnosed and untreated. This is especially true of
teenagers an young adults where we see higher rates of
ecstasy use.