Ecstasy:

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Ecstasy Whats All the Rave About?
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Overview

• What is ecstasy?
• What are ecstasys effects and signs of use?
• Who uses ecstasy?
• What are the treatment options?
• What can be done to prevent ecstasy use?
• Where can we get more information?

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What is ecstasy?
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Ecstasy
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
XTC
Disco Biscuits
Go
Adam
X
Truck Driver
Clarity
Essence
Hug Drug
Cristal
Ecstasy use is one of the most rapidly growing
phenomena in todays drug scene.
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What is ecstasy?

• Illegal club drug
• White crystalline powder with a slightly musty
  odor
• Produces effects similar to mescaline
  (hallucinogen) and speed (stimulant)
• Usually in gelatin capsules or tablets
• Stamped with names or symbols

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Ecstasy pills often contain other dangerous
substances
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Ecstasy facts

• Patented in the early 1900s
• Classified as an illegal drug in 1985
• Produced in Holland and Belgium for less than 1
  a tablet
• Domestic traffickers sell tablets for 20 to 40
  each
• Customs seized 10 times more MDMA tablets in 1999
  than in 1998.

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What are ecstasys effects/signs of use?
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The effects of ecstasy
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Short-term effects

• Feelings of well-being and empathy
• Reduced anxiety
• Enhanced self-confidence
• Greater acceptance of others
• Increased energy
• Increased desire for physical contact and visual
  stimulation
• Intensified awareness of senses

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Ecstasys downside

• Increases in heart rate and blood pressure
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Jaw tightness
• Compulsive chewing and teeth clenching
• Anxiety, panic, and depression
• Health risks increase if ecstasy is combined with
  another drug

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Ecstasy can be deadly
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What comes after the high?

• Hungover feeling and depressione-tarded
• Moodiness, anxiety, and paranoia
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Chills or sweating
• General tiredness

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Long-term effects

• Long-lasting changes
• Possible brain damage
• Tolerance
• Need greater amounts for the same effects
• Dependence
• Unable to socialize without MDMA

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Signs of rave culture

• Pacifiers
• Surgical masks and mentholated rub
• Neon glowsticks
• Brightly colored beads
• Clothing with the letters PLUR

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Who uses ecstasy?
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Who uses ecstasy?

• In 2000, 6.4 million Americans had used ecstasy
  at least once. (2000 SAMHSA Household Survey)
• Ecstasy use is most widespread among white,
  upper-middle-class youth. (2000 Monitoring the
  Future)
• African-American students are much less likely
  than white or Hispanic students to use ecstasy.
  (2000 Monitoring the Future)
• MDMA use has jumped, especially among younger
  students. (2000 Monitoring the Future)

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Anyone can be an ecstasy user
Teenagers
College students
Youth at all-night parties

Gay men
Professionals in many fields
People searching for spiritual enlightenment
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What are the treatment options ?
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Available Treatments

• No specific treatments exist for ecstasy use
• Diagnosing ecstasy use is difficult
• Dependency can be addressed with cognitive
  behavior therapy and self-help groups

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What can be done to prevent ecstasy use?
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Caregivers can help prevent ecstasy use

• Establish and maintain good communication with
  youth
• Be involved in young peoples lives
• Be a positive role model
• Let young people know what is expected of them
• Show appreciation for young people
• Teach youth to choose friends wisely
• Monitor youth activities

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Help children refuse drugs
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Prevention requires community involvement

• A community working together includes
• Parents, youth, and families
• Faith communities
• Media
• Schools
• Professional and civic groups
• Health and social services
• Courts/Law enforcement
• Businesses
• Treatment agencies and health organizations

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Establish a no-use community norm
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Where can we get more information?
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Resources

• SAMHSAs National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and
  Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686,
  www.SAMHSA.gov. Click on Campaigns and Programs
  and go to the Drug Facts icon.
• Informational Web sites
• whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
• www.nida.nih.gov
• www.preventiondss.org
• www.clubdrugs.org
• www.cadca.org

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Ecstasy Whats All the Rave About?
To view slide presentation, 30-minute video, and
90-minute teleconference go to

• www.SAMHSA.gov Click on Campaigns and Programs
  and go to the Drug Facts icon

To order the VHS video call 1-800-729-6686
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Ecstasy Whats All the Rave About?

• Teleconference produced by
• The Office of National Drug Control Policy
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administrations Center for Substance Abuse
  Prevention
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
• National Guard Bureaus Counterdrug Office
• National Institutes of Healths National
  Institute on Drug Abuse

as part of the teleconference series
Myths, Facts, and Illicit Drugs What You Should
Know