4.+Rehabilitation+&+Dependency

= ﻿Rehabilitation & Dependence =

Is Ecstasy Addictive?
When a person takes ecstasy for the first time, dependence is determined by how good or bad of an experience the person has had. If the experience was great then the user will be more likely to take ecstasy again, an example of positive reinforcement (McCann & Weiten, 2007). If the individual had a great time but after felt horrible, this after-effect might be enough to stop them from taking ecstasy in the future. An individual who continues taking ecstasy after experiencing it's negative side effects would be an example of negative reinforcement (McCann & Weiten, 2007). Just like every drug, the individual characteristics of a person play a huge role in the addiction process. The behaviour and atmosphere that the individual is in when taking the drug can either enhance or inhibit the effects of the drug.

It is controversial to say that ecstasy is addictive. From research and studies it makes sense to say that an individual can have a behavioural addiction to ecstasy. Therefore, addiction and ecstasy are positively correlated. Tolerance builds very rapidly in the brain every time the drug is taken; this means that in order to feel greater or the same effects after the drug wares off the person would need to take a greater amount (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010). Since taking ecstasy consecutively one after another is dangerous people usually do not do this, especially when knowing it can be lethal. Since taking ecstasy over and over again in a short amount of time is dangerous it is hard for people to understand the dependence and addiction aspect of the drug. Heroin addicts who a have tolerance towards the drug can shoot up multiple times a day to get high, whereas with ecstasy one is unable to do this without the results being fatal. This is why it is suggested for ecstasy users to take the drug within a long time span to feel the greatest effects. Ecstasy is associated with raves because of the short term useage and high one recieves in that type of atmosphere. Chronic Ecstasy users have a Behavioural addiction. A behavioural addiction refers to an individual who continuously engages in an activity regardless of the harmful consequences (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010). There are many harmful consequences to taking ecstasy. Some of these harmful consequences are: 1. Every ecstasy pill is different; may be laced with different drugs 2. Every experience will have different effects; you never know what to expect 3. Physical effects during and after taking the drug; dehydration 4. Psychological effects during and after taking the drug; feelings of happiness vs. depression 5. Already existing health problems 6. Memory loss 7. Death

Whenever ones perception is altered there is a risk of harmful consequences. For example, combining alcohol and ecstasy can be dangerous; alcohol is a diuretic which means it tells the kidneys to flush the body out leading to dehydration. Ecstasy also dehydrates the body, as well as increases body temperature. Although alcohol decreases body temperature, one can become extremely dehydrated resulting in death. The atmosphere in which the drug is taken is also dangerous; at clubs and raves ecstasy may be sold or given illegally to raise the revenue of the clubs through the sale of drinks.



A survey of young adults and adolescent MDMA users found that 43 percent of those who reported ecstasy use met the accepted diagnostic criteria for dependence (CAMH, 2010).

**Rehabilitation**
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chronic use of Ecstasy can cause both short-term and long-term memory problems. 70-80% of chronic ecstasy users have memory loss or impairment (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010). Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is one source of help to overcome the chronic use of ecstasy. Memory exercises can also be beneficial for users with substantial memory damage.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 2008 there were 75 hospital visits associated with Ecstasy in Seattle (Drug Abuse Warning Network, 200 8).