Ecstasy—So Not the Party Drug
On January 1, 2007, 16-year old Danielle McCarthy accepted two ecstasy pills from a friend. Soon after consuming the pills, Danielle started vomiting and showing signs of an overdose. This continued for at least eight hours before Danielle’s friend decided she needed medical treatment. According to reports, neither Danielle nor her friend knew how sick Danielle was. When Danielle finally got to the hospital, it was too late. She died from using ecstasy.
Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a “synthetic, psychoactive drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The pills often have fun designs branded on them. But just because they’re marked with a heart, smiley face, or peace sign doesn’t mean they’re safe. Ecstasy is an illegal drug, and if you’re caught doing or dealing ecstasy, you could face a prison sentence.
Perhaps even more important than the risk of getting caught is the jeopardy you’re putting yourself in every time you take ecstasy. The drug has serious risk factors and severe reactions can occur from the first use. There are long-term consequences from ecstasy as well; these side effects can occur from a single use.
One pill is dangerous, but some teens are engaging in the practice of “stacking.” “Stacking,” or doubling the dose, is becoming popular, says NIDA. This troubling trend increases the risk for dangerous and harmful side effects from using ecstasy. Teens often stack pills because one pill soon isn’t enough to get high after repeated abuse. This can spiral into an endless cycle of addiction.
Don’t become another life lost to ecstasy. One try is all it takes to experience the drug’s frightening side effects. If you’re considering using ecstasy, think about Danielle vomiting and being sick for up to eight hours and eventually dying. Are any of the possible side effects worth it just to use drugs? No.
For more information on ecstasy, visit www.drugfree.org or speak to a counselor in your area.
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