Ecstasy Addiction Intervention Treatment in Pennsylvania
Ecstasy addiction intervention treatment in Pennsylvania includes professional family intervention services, drug detox programs, residential drug rehab, and outpatient drug rehabilitation programs. Treating drug addiction involves multiple steps, and the first is usually to convince the addict they need help. Not every addict is willing to accept drug rehab or admits they are addicted to drugs. Family intervention is a common option used to convince an addict they need help. In addition, it is important to find the right type of drug rehabilitation. Generally, the treatment settings and interventions should meet the needs of the person attending drug rehab.
Ecstasy drug addiction in Pennsylvania impacts people from younger age groups. Ecstasy is a common recreational drug used by teens and young adults. Ecstasy drug use is also commonly part of polydrug use where other illicit or licit drugs are abused. There are significant risks associated with using ecstasy, and it can damage a person’s physical and mental health. Drug detox programs and substance abuse treatment in Pennsylvania provide the best options to help someone abusing ecstasy and other similar drugs.
What is Ecstasy?
MDMA or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception. Ecstasy is chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens, producing feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception. Most of the ecstasy found in Pennsylvania contains not only MDMA but also a number of other drugs or drug combinations. Combining different chemicals increases the risk of a drug overdose—ecstasy in tablet form sold with logos, creating brand names for drug users to seek out.
MDMA is also distributed in capsules, powder, and liquid forms. The use of ecstasy mainly involves swallowing tablets. However, the tablets can also be crushed and snorted, occasionally smoked, and rarely injected. It is common for ecstasy users to take the drug by stacking, which means taking three or more tablets at once. Another common method of use is piggy-backing, which is taking a series of tablets over a short period of time. The more ecstasy that is consumed at one time increases the risk of organ failure and overdose.
Common Street Names for Ecstasy
Ecstasy has many common street names to identify the drug on the illegal market. Common street names include Adam, Beans, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, Pease, STP, X, and XTC. The drug is a synthetic chemical made in labs. The MDMA found in Pennsylvania is manufactured in and smuggled across the border from illegal laboratories in Canada. Ecstasy is synthesized by altering the structure of the amphetamine molecule. The processing of the drug changes its purity, making it impossible to know the strength. In addition, other compounds are added to the drug, increasing the risk of overdose.
The Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Ecstasy Use
MDMA or ecstasy increases the activity of three brain chemicals, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The short-term effects of ecstasy include nausea, muscle cramping, involuntary teen clenching, blurred vision, chills, and sweating. The use of ecstasy can also result in disorganized thoughts, feelings of detachment, increased anxiety, irritability, and hot flashes. A large amount of ecstasy can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature, thus lead to a spike in body temperature. An increased body temperature can result in liver, kidney, heart failure, or death.
The effects of ecstasy can last three to six hours. Most drug users take a second dose as the effects of the first dose begin to fade. The recreational use of ecstasy can lead to irritability, impulsiveness, aggression, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, memory, and attention problems, decreased appetite, and decreased interest in and pleasure from sex. Polydrug use with ecstasy also increases the risk of a drug overdose. Drug rehabilitation programs in Pennsylvania help each client overcome the physical damage caused by ecstasy drug use.
Ecstasy Addiction Treatment and Detox in Pennsylvania
Ecstasy addiction treatment and detox in Pennsylvania include inpatient drug detox programs, residential drug rehabilitation, outpatient substance abuse treatment, and aftercare support. Treating ecstasy addiction involves different steps, but there is a general process. The first part of treatment involves drug detox to treat withdrawal symptoms and alleviate drug cravings. Common withdrawal symptoms include fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, mood swings, mental confusion, panic attacks, and irritability. Generally speaking, withdrawal symptoms may start within 12 hours or so after the last dose of ecstasy and peak after a few days. Clinical drug detox programs in Pennsylvania are the best option to treat ecstasy drug addiction.
The next phase of drug rehabilitation involves attending a residential or outpatient drug rehabilitation program in Pennsylvania. Residential drug rehab programs in Pennsylvania for ecstasy addiction include long-term and short-term treatment options. Outpatient drug rehab also provides long-term and short-term treatment options. The different therapy methodologies may include behavioral counseling like 12-step facilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling, and individual therapy. Some drug rehab centers in Pennsylvania treat ecstasy addiction using non-traditional approaches like holistic treatment, experiential therapy, or faith-based drug rehab. In addition, it is important to arrange aftercare support or recovery support. Common recovery options are 12-step meetings, peer support, or sober living homes.
Ecstasy Addiction Intervention in Pennsylvania
It is difficult to watch someone battle a drug addiction to ecstasy. Unfortunately, most people addicted to MDMA are unwilling to accept help or admit they have an addiction. Ecstasy addiction intervention in Pennsylvania helps families regain control, set clear boundaries, and save the life of the person addicted to drugs. Drug intervention is a carefully planned process bringing together family, friends, and a professional interventionist. The purpose of an intervention is to confront the addict about their drug use. A family intervention demonstrates the consequences of the addict’s addiction and asks them to get help.
The best way to plan and organize an ecstasy addiction intervention is by hiring a professional interventionist. Certified interventionists have the training and qualification to counsel the family, perform the intervention, and bring the addict to the drug rehab center in Pennsylvania. Family intervention is a successful option to consider. A properly planned drug intervention works; however, a poorly planned family intervention worsens the situation making it harder to convince the addict to attend drug rehab.
Sources-
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf
