The signs of ecstasy use are usually easy to spot, however it’s when you spot them that becomes crucial. Sometimes it’s difficult to detect ecstasy use because it is mainly a party drug. Teens tend to take the drug at parties that their parties are unaware they are attending.
However, when parents do spot overt affection, or any of the other signs mentioned in this article, they need to bring up the topic of ecstasy abuse right away.
View related: signs and symptoms of drug use.
Understanding Ecstasy & Why Teens Abuse It
Teens on ecstasy have a greater pleasurable response to the world around them, including wanting to dance frequently and becoming more affectionate to those around them.
Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that’s known to be both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. It can reduce a person’s inhibitions, making the teen more likely to feel connected, lovable and loving. The drug can also increase the pleasurable effects of light, sound and color. This is why ecstasy has become popular at teen dance parties.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 11 million people 12 and older have used Ecstasy at least once in their lifetimes. Many teens take the drug exclusively as part of the nighttime party experience, but others take the drug on a habitual basis, allowing them to feel more affectionate and cheerful during the day as well.
Teens who are habitually sullen and withdrawn and suddenly become affectionate, such as by asking for multiple hugs, should be suspected of drug use.
Additional Signs of Ecstasy Use
Ecstasy is illegal, and teens who want to obtain the drug often need to schedule a buy in advance. Since teens may not want to discuss the drug use in front of their parents, they may speak in code, trying to hide their true meaning behind slang.
According to the National PTA, common slang terms for Ecstasy include:
- E
- X
- Go
- Hug drug
- XTC
In the 21st century, the most popular undercover reference to Ecstasy is “molly.” While it indeed sounds like a person’s name, molly is not a girl or even a person. Indeed, Molly is a slang term for the drug, ecstasy.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “The popular nickname molly (slang for ‘molecular’) often refers to the supposedly ‘pure’ crystalline powder form of MDMA, usually sold in capsules.”
In truth, molly is rarely pure and often not even ecstasy. Drug dealers use the molly name as a cover to sell bath salts, ketamine, and other dangerous drugs to unsuspecting teens.
Physical Signs of Ecstasy Use
Teens who are under the influence might show additional physical signs of use, including a sheen of sweat covering most of the skin. These teens might feel incredibly warm to the touch. Teens might also grind their teeth together or clench their jaws shut tight.
Once the drug begins to wear off, teens might display hangover signs including dizziness, confusion, vomiting or nausea. These teens cannot remember what was said or done in the night prior. They are often slightly paranoid when asked questions about the events of the night prior.
While ecstasy abuse is certainly frightening, especially for parents who see their children transformed into completely different people within the space of a few hours, the abuse can be successfully treated.
Please contact us at Newport Academy to find out more about treatment approaches for teen drug use and abuse.