Signs of Ecstasy Addiction and the Need for Detox

Ecstasy has become the “go-to” drug for young people and college students looking to unwind on the party scene. Ecstasy carries both stimulant and hallucinogen properties, making for an intense, unusual high that can last for hours on end, according to the U. S. National Library of Medicine.

Those who use ecstasy on a regular basis open themselves up to the drug’s high addiction potential. Once ecstasy addiction takes hold, the need for detox treatment becomes increasingly apparent the longer a person continues to use.

Signs of ecstasy addiction are fairly easy to spot as the drug warps the body’s chemical processes. Users can expect to see an ongoing decline in their overall physical and mental health. Since ecstasy addictions take root in the brain, signs of ecstasy addiction worsen over time as brain chemical balances worsen from continued drug use.

Ecstasy Addictions

A drug capable of producing both stimulant and hallucinogen effects greatly disrupts the body’s natural chemical balance. This means, even a single dose of ecstasy can wreak havoc on a person’s emotional and physical well-being.

With ecstasy being a “street drug,” additive ingredients further complicate ecstasy’s overall effect on the brain and body. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, additive ingredients may include:

• Dextromethorphan
• LSD
• Heroin
• Ketamine

Any one of the above ingredients can compound ecstasy’s effects and place even more strain on the body. As additives only work to intensify the “high” the user experiences, a person can develop an ecstasy addiction at an even faster rate.

Signs of Brain Chemical Imbalance

Taking increasingly large amounts of ecstasy may indicate that you are growing addicted to it.

The brain’s neurotransmitter chemicals regulate most every single bodily function. Likewise, the brain depends on a delicate balance of chemicals to regulate bodily processes as normal. With each dose of ecstasy, brain chemical levels skew further out of balance.

Signs of ecstasy addiction reflect the overall dysfunction and deterioration caused by growing chemical imbalances in the brain. Before long, a person starts to develop physical symptoms of ecstasy addiction, some of which include:

• Muscle tension
• Insomnia
• Bouts of depression and anxiety
• Feelings of rage
• Apathy

As any attempt to reduce or stop using brings on horrid withdrawal effects, the need for detox treatment becomes all the more apparent the longer a person keeps using the drug.

Behavioral Signs of Ecstasy Addiction

Brain chemical imbalances can only persist for so long before the regions governing learning and motivation become adversely affected. Ecstasy addictions take a firm hold once the drug’s effects essentially reconfigure the brain’s reward system. Once this happens, a person will start showing behavioral signs of ecstasy addiction.

Behavioral signs may include:

• Neglecting friends and family
• Neglecting personal hygiene and appearance
• Legal problems (criminal behavior)
• Financial problems
• Problems at work or school

At this point, addicts may well opt to enter detox treatment after so many failed attempts at quitting the drug. Once behavioral signs of addiction develop, most people require professional help in order to overcome their need for the drug.