Author: Gary Jackson
Ecstasy MDMA: Uses, Effects, Risks
A person’s unique physical attributes and frequency of drug use can also affect how long it is detectable. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Because drugs like MDMA are not regulated, you will hardly find ‘pure MDMA.’ This is because even the supposedly pure MDMA contains other substances such as cocaine, ketamine, and ephedrine. Ecstasy is an illegal substance typically made in a laboratory. If you would like help or support related to drug use please visit support for people affected by drugs.
Addiction is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as continued use despite harmful consequences. Reports also suggest that people who use ecstasy exhibit such symptoms as well as other markers of addiction including tolerance, drug cravings, and withdrawal. Unlike other recreational drugs such as cocaine and nicotine, which are derived from plants, ecstasy is synthesized by altering the structure of the amphetamine molecule. This could mean cutting a tablet into quarters and only taking one at a time.
Ecstasy and the Brain
Even though ecstasy includes addictive ingredients, there is very little research to prove that you can get addicted to the drug. Research shows drugs like cocaine have a higher potential for addiction than ecstasy. It takes about 45 minutes or longer to feel the effects of ecstasy.
The main psychedelic effects of MDMA can last for an average of 3 hours. But it may take up to 40 hours to fully clear from your system. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, roughly 2.2 million people reported using MDMA at least once over the past 12 months.
What is MDMA (Molly/Ecstacy)?
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. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 4 Feb 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Feb 2024), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2024) and others. Chronic users of ecstasy perform more poorly than nonusers on certain types of cognitive or memory tasks.
