A recent report by U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows the consumption of Ecstasy, a psychoactive drug has nearly doubled among U.S. teenagers in recent years. Easy access to the drug has made it immensely popular among the teens.
The medical surveillance report on Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is based on data provided by the Drug Abuse Warning Network, a public health watchdog that keeps track of drug related emergency visits and deaths at national hospitals in the United States.
There was an increase of around 128 percent in Ecstasy usage among teens between 2005 and 2010, reports medicalexpress. The emergency visits to hospitals rose from 4,500 to 10,000 over that time. These numbers just represent the emergency cases of overdosage, the actual figures will be much higher.
"This should be a wake-up call to everyone, but the problem is much bigger than what the data show," said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. "These are only the cases that roll into the emergency rooms. It's just the tip of the iceberg."
Ecstasy acts as a stress reliever as it leads to a burst in adrenalin and euphoria. Excessive drug usage results in overheating of the body, dehydration, faster heart beat, high blood pressure in addicts, which may result in heart and kidney failure. The regular users may also suffer from mental disorders.
Alcohol usage has also resulted in increased dependency on Ecstasy as the drug in powder form, called Molly, is often mixed with drinks. The drug mixed with alcohol can lead to dangerous hyper activity, states Peter Delany, the director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality.
According to Delany, Ecstasy influences the serotonin hormone in our body responsible for emotions and an overdose can cause depression, confusion, paranoia, anxiety and sleep disorders.
The report points out that Ecstasy is no longer a club drug and now more teenagers are taking it. Ecstasy available in powder form reportedly contains other chemicals that are more harmful for the consumers.
"When it was in a finished pill, it was difficult to tamper with," said Pasierb in a statement. "But now that it comes in a powder form, you might have an unscrupulous dealer who cuts it with speed or some other substance."
