Mixing the popular club drug ecstasy with alcohol can cause
serious adverse reactions in users, including brain damage, organ failure and
death.
Alcohol
In small to moderate does, alcohol alone can be enjoyed
safely by recreational users who are not predisposed to addiction. A sense of euphoria, confidence and reduced
inhibitions are the effects that many people find most desirable about
alcohol.
Long-term abuse of alcohol and frequent bouts of heavy drinking can have many negative effects on the user including:
- Liver damage
- Sleep disorder
- Mood Changes
- Death
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
reported that there were nearly 26,000 alcohol-induced deaths in 2010,
excluding accidents and homicides. These
staggering numbers suggest that alcohol use alone can have disastrous
consequences.
Ecstasy
Infrequent, recreational use of ecstasy by itself has a
stimulant effect on the user and can enhance mood, reduce sensitivity to pain
and create a sense of euphoria. The drug
is widely used in dance clubs and raves as a means to enhance the positive
social and musical experience.
Frequent abuse of ecstasy and ingestion of tainted ecstasy can
cause severe consequences in users including:
·
Mood disturbances
·
Seizures
·
Dehydration
·
Death
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) reported that there were over 2,000 ecstasy-related
emergency room visits in the second half of 2003 in the United States. Since then, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
has indicated that there has been a steady increase in ecstasy use in the U.S.,
partly as a result of new versions of the drug marketed to club and
party-goers.
Ecstasy and Alcohol Overdose
Using ecstasy and alcohol simultaneously can be a deadly
combination. Alcohol acts as a central
nervous system depressant and negatively impacts every organ in the human body
when consumed in large quantities.
Alcohol overdose can occur when a user consumes more alcohol than the
body can metabolize in a given period of time.
Alcohol overdose can result in:
- Coma
- Brain Damage
- Death
The nature of ecstasy is such that users may not perceive
how intoxicated they are or may underestimate the effect that alcohol is having
on their body. When under the influence
of ecstasy the risk of overdosing on alcohol is elevated. The relatively short-term stimulant effect of
ecstasy can temporarily counteract the depressant characteristics of
alcohol. This can result in a rapid drop
in blood pressure, heart rate and respiration when the stimulant effect of
ecstasy wears off. This can cause loss
of consciousness, coma or death.
Severe Dehydration
Ecstasy increases body temperature and rate of perspiration
in users. Because physical activity such
as dancing usually accompanies ecstasy use, dehydration can occur due to
excessive sweating. An elevated body
temperature increases the need for water intake, which is often limited when
using ecstasy.
Alcohol has a noticeable diuretic effect that causes users
to sweat and urinate frequently. The
alcoholic impact on hydration levels alone are enough to cause dehydration. Alcohol also causes a disruption in the
regulation of body temperature. This can
result in fluctuations in body temperature during and after a drinking session.
Alcohol enhances the level of perspiration experienced
during ecstasy use and increases the likelihood of severe dehydration and
hyperthermia resulting from a disruption in regulation of body
temperature. These impacts of severe
dehydration and hyperthermia caused by mixing ecstasy and alcohol include:
- Stroke
- Organ Failure
- Coma
- Death
Severe Mood Disturbances and Suicide
Both ecstasy and alcohol abuse can have adverse effects on
brain chemistry which can result in mood disturbances, depression and suicidal
thoughts and actions. Mixing ecstasy and
alcohol can have such a profound impact on the regulation of neurotransmitters
that users may experience severe mood swings and frequent bouts of depression
and anxiety, which can ultimately lead to suicidal ideation.
Prevention of Health Consequences
The only way to completely prevent the consequences
associated with mixing ecstasy and alcohol is total abstinence from both
drugs. This can be especially difficult
for users who have developed a psychological or physical dependence. Often the best course of action for those who
wish to prevent the health consequences associated with ecstasy and alcohol use
is inpatient drug treatment.
Inpatient drug treatment can help users safely detox in a
drug and alcohol-free environment. With
the appropriate guidance and support that can be provided during inpatient
treatment, users can commit to sobriety and gain the tools needed to live a
healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
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