Do you have someone in your life who takes ecstasy on a regular basis? If so, you might want to consider gathering with their other friends and family members and planning an intervention. Perhaps this sounds extreme, or even dramatic to you. However, if it saves the life of your loved one, then it is the right thing to do.
We at Asheville Detox have helped many families by being the trusted treatment center that the patient comes to after the intervention has taken place. We have experience in detoxing patients from all types of psychedelic drugs, including ecstasy. Let’s take a moment to talk about the dangers of ecstasy and how to know that it is time for you to intervene.
What Is Ecstasy?
Also known as “X, “E,”or Molly, ecstasy is a pill that you take that makes you stay up all night. It is the street name for MDMA, which is an illegal drug that is both a stimulant and a psychedelic.
When you take ecstasy, you feel mentally stimulated, emotionally charged, calm, and in love with everyone and everything around you. Perhaps this is why it is given the nickname of “the love drug.”
Its effects last from three to six hours on average. However, once the effects of the first pill fade away, many users go ahead and take another dose. Ecstasy used to contain pure MDMA, but now it is cut with things like cocaine, heroin, detergent, aspirin, and even rat poison to save money.
Why Is Ecstasy So Dangerous?
Many people that take ecstasy do so before going out to a rave or a nightclub. They start dancing and having fun and don’t really realize what is happening to their body. They quickly become dehydrated and their body overheats. If left untreated, their organs will stop functioning and they can die.
As mentioned, when the effects of their first ecstasy pill begin to wear off, many users take another to avoid “crashing” from the first pill. This only increases the chances of them overheating or having heart troubles. When the crash phase does begin, users feel anxious, depressed, tired, irritable, agitated and impulsive. While the user is on ecstasy, or is in the process of coming down from it, they will commonly experience:
- Insomnia
- Impaired judgement
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Blurry vision
- Muscle tension
- Teeth grinding
Signs of Ecstasy Abuse
Recognizing the signs of ecstasy abuse can help you confirm what you suspect about someone that you care about. Here are some of the common signs of ecstasy use:
- Users believe everyone around them is their friend
- An unnatural amount of energy
- Dilated pupils
- Increased sensory perception
- Lots of positive sensations
- Being overly empathetic
- Not being able to feel, or a reduced sense of pain
- Wanting to be touched
- Modifications in sleeping habits
- Staying awake for days
- Being paranoid
- Being impulsive
- Clenching teeth
- Dry mouth
- Muscle tension
- Mildly confused
- Sweating excessively
- Being promiscuous
- Euphoria
- Heightened emotions
- Staying thirsty
- Feeling in love with their partner, even if they don’t really know them well
What is an Intervention?
Let’s say that you have noticed the signs of addiction in your loved one, and you have tried talking to them about it before. Perhaps they denied it, or otherwise dismissed your efforts.
An intervention is a carefully laid out plan that is designed by the addicted person’s family and friends. The end result is for the individual to accept responsibility for their behaviors, with the ultimate goal being for them to enter treatment in order to overcome their addiction.
An intervention is conducted by a doctor, social worker, or other professional that sits in as the interventionist. Each team member has a chance to have the floor in voicing their feelings about how this person’s addiction has affected them, and what they will do if the individual does not accept addiction treatment.
How Do You Know That It is Time for an Intervention?
First of all, you know that it is time to stage an intervention if you see that your loved one is showing signs of ecstasy abuse. You will know they are addicted to ecstasy if they are prioritizing their ecstasy over responsibilities, relationships, and their health. If they deny there is a problem and it is obvious to everyone but them, this is your first clue.
Secondly, are they being dishonest with you? Being deceptive is par for the course when it comes to drug addiction. Getting more, and doing more of what they desire is all that matters, which in this case is more ecstasy.
Are they taking unnecessary risks? You may or may not know the answer to this question because they are hiding things from you. Are they driving while they are taking ecstasy? Chances are that they are taking risks sexually speaking when they are on X, which can cause long-term consequences that cannot be reversed.
Perhaps your reason for wanting to plan an intervention has a lot to do with yourself, and that is okay. Perhaps you just can’t deal with the situation anymore. You don’t accept or agree with what is going on underneath your roof. You want to help your loved one, but they won’t accept your help. You don’t have the strength to do it on your own.
Reach Out to Asheville Detox for Help
A lot of time and careful consideration should go into staging an effective intervention. Each member should speak their truth and let it be known how strongly they were affected by the actions of the addicted person, but more importantly how deeply they will support them when they choose to receive treatment.
We at Asheville Detox know how much courage it takes to come together and plan an intervention. We will do whatever we can to assist you, by providing your loved ones with a friendly, welcoming, and safe environment for them to transition into. Contact us today and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
