Ecstasy is one of the many party drugs that affect the LGBTQ community every day. Common in clubs, the stimulant drug is taken for euphoric effects and is a significant part of LGBTQ social life. Unfortunately, short and long-term ecstasy abuse has adverse effects on the brain. For those struggling with mental health disorders or unprocessed trauma, ecstasy can be challenging to stop taking and affect mental health. Understanding the relationship between the brain and ecstasy can help people know when to seek ecstasy addiction treatment.
If you or someone you love in the LGBTQ community is worried about the effects of ecstasy, our Hollywood, California, ecstasy addiction treatment program can help. Our residential and outpatient treatment programs provide the LGBTQ community with cutting-edge ecstasy treatment in California. Call us now at 888.903.9898 to learn more about ecstasy effects on the brain and our ecstasy rehab program.
What Is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy is the methamphetamine MDMA. Like other stimulant drugs, it speeds up messages from the brain to the body. It also floods the brain with dopamine, the “pleasure chemical” responsible for joy, elation, and motivation. While the brain makes dopamine daily, additional dopamine can cause a reward effect. This natural response to high dopamine levels causes the brain to crave more. Dopamine plays a large part in addiction and how quickly addiction develops. When it comes to ecstasy and the brain, everything is complicated and unwanted consequences can creep up on you.
MDMA has many names, including:
- Dizzle
- Dolphins
- E
- Beans
- Brownies
- Cowies
- Crystal
- MD
- Molly
- Mandy
- Mitsubishis
- Pills
- Rolexs
- Superman
- Xtc
- Pink Superman
No matter what someone calls it, both short- and long-term ecstasy abuse can have significant consequences for the brain and body.
Effects of Ecstasy on the Brain
The link between the brain and ecstasy abuse includes physical and mental effects. Like other drugs, ecstasy works by altering brain chemistry. An increase in dopamine and serotonin can affect mental health, especially for those with co-occurring mental health conditions. Ecstasy’s effects on the brain include:
- Memory problems
- Emotional instability
- Reactionary behavior
- Heightened risk of seizures
Because MDMA is a stimulant, it raises blood pressure and can lead to heart attack and organ damage. Ecstasy can be the most dangerous for the brain when combined with other drugs or when someone becomes dehydrated while high. This is when someone is most likely to die from ecstasy use. While small, infrequent doses may have few long-term effects on the brain, prolonged ecstasy use can damage memory and worsen mental health. When someone experiences ecstasy withdrawal, it’s time for treatment.
Ecstasy Treatment for the LGBTQ Community
When the brain becomes dependent on ecstasy, it’s difficult to stop taking MDMA without professional detox. Quitting cold turkey can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms and depressive episodes. Someone may become a danger to themselves or others without treatment. If you or someone you love is worried about the effects of ecstasy on the brain, it’s time to reach out for ecstasy treatment in California.
At La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center, we believe in treating the LGBTQ community where we work and live. We provide comprehensive residential, outpatient, and sober living treatment in Southern California. With medically assisted detox, alumni programs, evidence-based and alternative therapies, we provide the support people need to recover together.
Specializing in party drugs and other substances that disproportionately affect the LGBTQ community, La Fuente is here for you. With compassionate staff in recovery themselves, we understand every phase of addiction and healing in the LGBTQ community. Our individual and group therapies help uncover and treat the root causes of addiction.
Find Ecstasy Rehab in California at La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center
While low doses of ecstasy may not be detrimental, it’s important to know ecstasy’s effects on the brain. Contact La Fuente now at 888.903.9898 to learn more about the benefits of ecstasy addiction treatment in California.
