Why is ecstasy dangerous?

Answer 1

The primary dangers to ecstasy come from its illegal nature. Because it is illegal, it isn't often bad by a reputable source and isn't often purchased by a reputable dealer. A dealer selling ecstasy will often "cut" or mix the drug with others which can be dangerous depending on the mix. If something goes wrong, the dealer often can't even be located much less sued in court. Since it isn't legally available, dosage varies wildly and what constitutes a pill for one maker is only half or two for another. These create a dangerous atmosphere if one does not know the source of the drug.

To some degree, those dangers exist with every illegal drug. Directly related to ecstasy, it tends to cause fever and high levels of persperation in addition to increased heart rate. This combined with a crowded, hot atmosphere and physical activity (such as that found at many raves while dancing) can lead to a number of life threatening conditions not the least of which is dehydration and cardiac arrest. Since ecstasy effects the brain, it can often be difficult for the user to correctly tell when they are in danger of these conditions. This is especially true since ecstasy reduces the effects of fear and feelings of warning which are needed to inform the user that something is wrong.

Long term use and its effects are debated. Ecstasy alters brain chemistry in a significant way. Specifically it removes proteins related to seratonin in the brain. Studies are conflicted regarding how easy it is to regenerate these proteins, but it is fairly certain that prolonged, frequent use can result in permanent brain function impairment. Some studies have shown frequent use of ecstasy to be related to cases of memory loss and depression but the actual correlation of these is not certain.

Socially, ecstasy decreases the level of anxiety and fear felt by the user. It also induces a false sense of intimacy with strangers and an overall sense of wellbeing even when this is not the case. In essence, the complete removal of the normal warning system alongside unwarranted trust in unknown people and a false sense of security. This can result in poor judgment and leaves the user more vulnerable to others around them. This can lead to additional dangers unrelated to but caused in concert with use of the drug.