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Nicknames:
‘love’ or ‘hug’ drug because users often feel like embracing people and things around them. Developed by German doctors, ecstasy was marketed as an appetite suppressant for soldiers during the first world war.Today the drug is closely associated with rave parties, as the energy rush it provides gives a feeling of almost limitless energy for almost six hours hence it’s appeal to the youth.

Appearance:
White or speckled tablet or multi-colored capsule.

Classification:
It is an amphetamine-based drugthough it is still confusing experts who still cannot figure out why it harms some users and leaves others more or less unharmed

Ecstasy is a powerful stimulant causing chronic dehydration and severe exhaustion that disrupts vital blood supplies and creates unnatural heart flutters

Physical effects: Heart rate body temperature and blood pressure rise (dangerous for anyone with heart or blood pressure disorders, asthmatics and people with epilepsy, diabetes, psychosis or depression are also considered at risk.)

The effects on persons depend on their metabolism and behavior as well as the way it affects the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. Apart from its frightening psychological effects it also causes physical harm. One tablet has been known to cause massive organ damage. While dehydrated victims need water, they sometimes drink so much that they cause further damage even death.

Even those who have previously taken the drug without any apparent adverse effects may suddenly develop a violent reaction to it. Despite being touted as non-addictive and safe users develop tolerance of the drug and psychological addiction is common. One begins to need more and more of the drug to match that first state of euphoria which many say they may never reach again.

Symptoms:
There is no precise way to spot when someone is taking ecstasy as most of it’s symptoms resemble those associated with other drugs. These include:

• mood swings,
• weight loss,
• exhaustion,
• sleeplessness,
• paranoia,
• depression and,
• a washed out look.
• Also sweat drenched clothes and
• when children start chewing gum to ease muscle pain from chronic ectsacy induced jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

WHAT TO DO IN AN ECSTACY EMERGENCY

• Try to calm them down
• Take them somewhere quiet and get them to take slow deep breaths.
• Give them something to drink-preferably water with a pinch of salt, but no stimulants such as tea, coffee or alcohol.
• Above all if they collapse, vomit or have a fit, lie them in the recovery position by turning them on their side with uppermost arm and leg bent to support the body. Tilt head back, making sure airway is clear.
  TAKE THEM TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY!
  

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