But MDMA itself has harmful effects. In some people, it can cause convulsions, delirium, severe changes in blood pressure and organ failure. Ecstasy can even cause brain damage or strokes. While ecstasy is not guaranteed to cause damage, it is impossible to know how your body will react. However, using ecstasy at a rave or a club can prove to be quite dangerous.
Ecstasy speeds up the heart rate, raises the body temperature and causes increased sweating.
These effects, combined with dancing and being in a poorly ventilated area that is packed with people can lead to heat stroke and dehydration, the two most common causes of death associated with ecstasy. A female junior, who has used ecstasy on approximately ten occasions, does the drug mostly at raves and parties. Once, while at the D.C. club Nation, she had a bad trip when she bought ecstasy from someone whom she did not know. After taking the tainted drug, the junior describes feeling overwhelmed and paranoid. Everything seemed really intense and really scary.