Broadcast Date: May 29, 2006
Interview: Sunrise Medical Editor, Dr John D'Arcy
Alarming figures were released last week showing ecstasy use in Australia is on the rise.
Sunrise Medical Editor, Dr John D'Arcy joined Sunrise to talk about the dangers of ecstacy.
Why is ecstasy use so prevalent?
The biggest problem is that these drugs are so readily available and they are cheap. In fact one pill can cost as little as $15 and if its a mixture of speed, amphetamines it can make people high or "off their head" all night long. Compare that to a night drinking alcohol and you can see how it can be attractive to young people, especially if they are studying or on a low income.
What exactly is ecstasy and does it only come in pill form?
Ecstasy is the common name for the illegal synthetic drug called methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen and is commonly used as a mood enhancer at parties and nightclubs. MDMA was originally developed in Germany as an appetite suppressant.
Today in Australia ecstasy is made in backyard laboratories, which means the user has no idea if the dose will be strong or weak. Ecstasy is usually swallowed as a tablet, but it can also come in powder form.
What does ecstasy do to your body?
When we are stressed or under threat, the central nervous system readies us for physical action by creating particular physiological changes. These may include the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones.
Key functions like heart rate and blood pressure may increase, redirecting blood flow into the muscles and away from the gut. As a nervous system stimulant, ecstasy works by prompting the brain to initiate this 'fight or flight' response and the user feels refreshed by a burst of energy.
Coming down from ecstasy is an unpleasant experience. Symptoms can include fatigue, aching muscles and depression.
How bad can its effects be?
The common effects depend on the strength of the dose, the physiology of the user and their state of mind at the time of taking the drug. Generally some of theimmediate effects of ecstasy include: Feelings of confidence, happiness and benevolence, Accelerated heart rate and breathing, Rise in blood pressure, Sweating and dehydration, Nausea, Jaw clenching and teeth grinding, Loss of appetite, Hallucinations, an increased urge for sex and Loss of inhibitions.
The scary effects can be very subtle and can be very swift. People with certain disorders - such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or mood or psychiatric disorders - are at greater risk if they take ecstasy. In high doses, ecstasy can cause seizures and vomiting. The symptoms of overdose include a sharp rise in body temperature and blood pressure, dizziness, cramps, heart palpitations and vomiting.
Ecstasy can cause death in a number of ways, including: Cardiac arrest, Stroke, Kidney failure, Overheating (hyperthermia) and dehydration, because the affected neurotransmitters - serotonin and dopamine - can't do their job of regulating body temperature, Dilutional hyponatremia, when the user 'drowns' their brain by drinking too much water is very common and was seen in the Anna Wood case.
Interview: Sunrise Medical Editor, Dr John D'Arcy
Alarming figures were released last week showing ecstasy use in Australia is on the rise.
Sunrise Medical Editor, Dr John D'Arcy joined Sunrise to talk about the dangers of ecstacy.
Why is ecstasy use so prevalent?
The biggest problem is that these drugs are so readily available and they are cheap. In fact one pill can cost as little as $15 and if its a mixture of speed, amphetamines it can make people high or "off their head" all night long. Compare that to a night drinking alcohol and you can see how it can be attractive to young people, especially if they are studying or on a low income.
What exactly is ecstasy and does it only come in pill form?
Ecstasy is the common name for the illegal synthetic drug called methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen and is commonly used as a mood enhancer at parties and nightclubs. MDMA was originally developed in Germany as an appetite suppressant.
Today in Australia ecstasy is made in backyard laboratories, which means the user has no idea if the dose will be strong or weak. Ecstasy is usually swallowed as a tablet, but it can also come in powder form.
What does ecstasy do to your body?
When we are stressed or under threat, the central nervous system readies us for physical action by creating particular physiological changes. These may include the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones.
Key functions like heart rate and blood pressure may increase, redirecting blood flow into the muscles and away from the gut. As a nervous system stimulant, ecstasy works by prompting the brain to initiate this 'fight or flight' response and the user feels refreshed by a burst of energy.
Coming down from ecstasy is an unpleasant experience. Symptoms can include fatigue, aching muscles and depression.
How bad can its effects be?
The common effects depend on the strength of the dose, the physiology of the user and their state of mind at the time of taking the drug. Generally some of theimmediate effects of ecstasy include: Feelings of confidence, happiness and benevolence, Accelerated heart rate and breathing, Rise in blood pressure, Sweating and dehydration, Nausea, Jaw clenching and teeth grinding, Loss of appetite, Hallucinations, an increased urge for sex and Loss of inhibitions.
The scary effects can be very subtle and can be very swift. People with certain disorders - such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or mood or psychiatric disorders - are at greater risk if they take ecstasy. In high doses, ecstasy can cause seizures and vomiting. The symptoms of overdose include a sharp rise in body temperature and blood pressure, dizziness, cramps, heart palpitations and vomiting.
Ecstasy can cause death in a number of ways, including: Cardiac arrest, Stroke, Kidney failure, Overheating (hyperthermia) and dehydration, because the affected neurotransmitters - serotonin and dopamine - can't do their job of regulating body temperature, Dilutional hyponatremia, when the user 'drowns' their brain by drinking too much water is very common and was seen in the Anna Wood case.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
