Ecstatic exploration
Question
I'm thinking about taking ecstasy for the first time and I've got loads of questions like, how many I can take? And how long should I wait before I take more? And how much water should I drink? And what are the side effects? What's it like coming down off them? Please tell me!
Answer
Before you decide whether to take ecstasy or not it's important you consider the implications to your legal situation and your health.
Ecstasy is a Class A drug so it's illegal to be in possession of it, or to supply it. The maximum penalty for possession of ecstasy is seven years imprisonment plus a fine and life imprisonment plus a fine for supply.
To be honest, it is almost impossible to answer the questions you have asked. This is because many tablets sold as ecstasy are not what people think they are. The amount of ecstasy in a tablet can vary and a tablet may not contain any ecstasy at all. A range of tablets have been analysed at different times in different places and some contained other drugs like amphetamine, ketamine or caffeine rather than ecstasy. So, as a result, it's almost impossible to know what you're taking and there is no way of knowing how many and what kind to take.
Ecstasy affects the body's ability to control its temperature. If you're dancing or in a hot crowd, your chances of overheating and dehydration are increased but you may not realise these things are happening to you while you're under the influence of the drug. It is recommended that you drink no more than a pint of water an hour. Be sure to sip it rather than drink it all at once, and don't drink too much.
Side effects also include liver, kidney and heart problems and dehydration and overheating are considered to be a factor in the over 200 ecstasy related deaths in the UK since 1996. Research into the long-term effects of ecstasy has shown that they can include depression and brain damage. And in the short-term, coming down from ecstasy can make you feel depressed and tired for days.
Obviously, the best way to avoid the legal and health implications of ecstasy use is to avoid taking it at all. Be sure that you know everything you need to in order to make the right choice. For more details about the effects, side effects and come down you can contact Frank for a confidential chat on 0800 77 66 00.
Updated: 12/04/2010
Question answered by Addaction
