Ecstasy: How Dangerous is This Wildly Popular Drug?
In February 2004 a 16-year-old girl in Connecticut went to a house party with some friends. She took a powdered form of the popular drug known as ecstasy with her friends, went into seizures and later died. In April 2004, a 14-year-old girl in California took ecstasy at a sleepover with two friends and died the next day from an overdose.
These stories are not rare-in fact, 2.6 million teens report having experimented with ecstasy in 2003 and hundreds of teens have died taking such drugs, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ecstasy is used by kids in their early to late teens and early 20s because it promotes a euphoric feeling by releasing
...estimated that around thirty percent of all heart attacks are actually diagnosed as such after the fact. Thus, it is incredibly important that people who are at risk for heart attacks pay attention to anything unusual that occurs in the ...
This drug, chemical name 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, is different from other illegal drugs in that many kids mistakenly believe it is safe. Common among white, middle- and upper-class kids, ecstasy-also called the hug drug, beans, Adam, XTC and the love drug-is thought of as a safe way to get an intensely pleasant, high feeling.
Ecstasy pills can be brightly colored and often contain cartoon characters and fun logos that appeal to kids.
It combines both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties that allow kids to stay awake and full of energy, which is why it’s a popular drug at raves (all-night dance parties) and
...more frequently than others. These include opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. Opioids Opiods are medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and mepridine. These medications are better known by the commercial names of OxyContin, Vicodin, and Demerol. These medications are ...
It does appear that kids and parents are waking up to the real dangers of this drug, as the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that among youths aged 12 to 17, 41 percent fewer said they had used ecstasy in the past month. However, many kids are still experimenting:
* 3.3 percent of kids 12-17 have tried it
* 15 percent of those aged 18-25 have tried it
* One in nine teenagers has tried it
Despite these high numbers, close
...heart attack may or may not result in sudden cardiac death. Common heart attack symptoms include intense chest pains, which can often be felt also in the left arm or jaw, profuse sweating, and a sense of impending doom or ...
Ecstasy’s Damaging Effects
Beware if Your Child Suddenly Starts Carrying These Items Associated With Ecstasy
The following paraphernalia are often carried by ecstasy users, either to stimulate senses, hide pills or relieve jaw clenching:
* Pacifiers
* Lollipops
* Candy necklaces
* Glow sticks and/or glowing jewelry
* A child-like backpack
* Mentholated rub
* Surgical-type masks
Many kids are drawn to the short-term “good feelings” that ecstasy creates, but here is a sample of the lasting damage even one ecstasy pill can cause:
* Severe dehydration
...online. The lower price being the most important factor. The drugs are properly scrutinized before giving the production license by the FDA but in case of the imported medicines there is no surety regarding the quality of the drugs. The ...
* Strokes
* Dramatic increases in body temperature (death by overheating is not unusual)
* Muscle breakdown
* Kidney failure
* Liver and heart failure
* Damage to hormornal systems
* Potential brain damage with repeated use
Would You Know if Your Child Were Using Ecstasy?
Here are 17 warning signs that your child could be using ecstasy:
* Dehydration
* Clenching of the jaw and/or grinding teeth
* A sore jaw
* Unusual displays of affection
* Pronounced
...inert or, worse still, dangerous. Medications are available on the Internet which previously could only be available with a doctor s prescription. And now legislation is powerless to stop criminals at selling medication on the Internet which can be at ...
* Loss of inhibitions
* Transfixion on sights and sounds
* Chills or sweating
* Muscle tension
* Nausea
* Confusion
* Difficulty concentrating;
* Tremors
* Sleep problems
* Severe anxiety
* Panic attacks
* Depression
If you suspect that your child may be using this drug, see the box at right for 17 warning signs, it’s important to talk to him immediately. If your child is young and tried a drug one time, you may be able to deal with the drug use on your own, however, if your child is older or you suspect he is a regular user, there are professional social workers, nurses, drug counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists who can help.
Ask your
...have to possess, use, or take advantage of whatever circumstance or substance is consuming their life. Addiction can take over the psychological stability of a person or attack their physical well being. In many cases, both instances are involved. Physical ...
Of course, speaking openly with your children about the dangers of drug use well before they reach their teenage years is one of the best preventive measures you can take.
Ecstasy’s Future Looks Dim
There is hope on the horizon for limiting the harm this “trendy” drug inflicts. In March 2004, the alleged leader of an international Ecstasy ring that supplied 15 percent of the U.S. ecstasy
...heart beat, obesity, high levels of stress, high or low cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Heart disease forms the leading cause of death in the United States it is even more common than cancer. An estimated ...
Karen P. Tandy, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrator said, “For the first time in all law enforcement, DEA has measured the impact of this operation, revealing that Operation Candy Box decimated the U.S. MDMA market-dramatically reducing MDMA availability, slashing its purity, and raising its price.”
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