The party drug of choice among many teens today is the drug ecstasy. Ecstasy, also known as on the streets as E, X-T-C, X, Adam, Hugs, Roll, Beans, Clarity, Lovers Speed, and the Love Drug has grown in popularity due to its ability to lower inhibitions and increase the sensation to touch, thus gaining the name of love drug. Ecstasy is taken in pill form, users sometimes take Ecstasy at "raves," clubs and other parties to keep on dancing and for mood enhancement. Indicators of possession of an Ecstasy pill/tablet is the tablet will often be branded with items such as Playboy bunnies, Nike swoosh, CK, smiley face, and other icons that teens can quickly relate to.
Ecstasy produces intensely pleasurable effects which makes it that much more attractive to teens and even adults. The user feels a sense of self-confidence and increased energy. They feel at peace, acceptance, and empathy with a strong desire to be close to others. The sense of touch and feel is increased. Less desirable affects can be involuntary teeth clenching, a loss of inhibitions, transfixion on sights and sounds, nausea, blurred vision, chills and/or sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as seizures, are all possible.
The draw to use ecstasy as a club or rave drug is due to the increased energy and the increased sensations to light and sound. The downside is that because of the increased energy, the user has the ability to dance for extended times above and beyond what one normally do. That mixed with a crowed club and the heat has led to many users experiencing severe dehydration and hyperthermia or dramatic increases in body temperature which can lead to muscle breakdown and kidney, liver and cardiovascular failure which can lead to death. A user coming down off ecstasy can experience sleep problems, anxiety, and depression.
If you hear your teen using any of the common names used for ecstasy, it is time to have a serious heart to heart with your child. It may be that they just picked up the slang from friends or school, but just the same it is important you sit down and talk to your child to 1st: find out where they heard the word (e.g. friend, name, relation to the drug – it may be your teen is hanging around a group that could easily persuade your teen into using as well), and 2nd educate them on the dangers of ecstasy. If you think your child may be using it is time to seek help from a professional.
If you need help or know of someone who does, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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What a scary pill this is. Of course, I've heard of it, but knew little of it's effects. I've been really lucky with my kids. A couple of them have smoked pot and all of them have tried alcohol but as far as I know that has been the extent of their experiments. I guess I really do need to educate myself on what is out there.
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, most of that looks like candy. I'm sure that some of the kids that take it don't know what it is. At least I hope that's true. It just boggles my mind that the drug problem has grown to such proportions. The last time I checked the inhibitions of todays youth is pretty low as it is, they surely don't need anything to make it worse.
ReplyDeleteI agree Wilamina. What better way to reach the kids than to use the symbols they strive to own. I don't know who came up with this marketing strategy but I hope they're in a particularly hot section of hell for eternity, and even that is too good for them.
ReplyDeleteLooking at that picture, I can understand how young kids might take Ecstasy thinking it was candy. I guess by the time they are teens, they'll take it no matter what it looks like. It's getting pretty scary out there.
ReplyDeleteSome of those side effects sound like a seizure. How the heck are you supposed to tell the difference. I guess the fact that you can see something is wrong might be enough. In either case, they probably need help.
ReplyDeleteI asked my 20 year old college son if he had ever tried drugs. I was surprised to find out that he had experimented when he was a junior in high school. One of his friends was a supplier and that totally shocked me. This kid was at the top of his class and his parents were professionals. Thankfully, he decided that his life was more important to him than a momentary euphoric experience.
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