Alcohol, second only to nicotine, is by far this country's biggest drug problem, but we are learning more about Ecstasy as each day passes. The more aware we become about the effects of Ecstasy, the more we have to recognize that there are some serious potential dangers arising from its use. It can be difficult to change our views about a drug, like Ecstasy, that used to be both legal and readily available. However, recent research suggests that Ecstasy may cause long-term damage to the parts of our brain that release serotonin.
Ecstasy works by causing the brain to release the serotonin it has stored.
When we take Ecstasy, the brain is flooded with serotonin, which makes us feel like everyone is our best friend, we can talk to anyone for hours about anything, and we just want to hug or dance all night. Taking more Ecstasy doesn't work because your body can't release serotonin it no longer has. Some researchers are very concerned that the over-release of serotonin will eventually deprive our brains of the ability to adequately manufacture and utilize it, leading to a permanent, lasting depressive disorder. Clearly, more research needs to be done. Another danger is Ecstasy's interference with your body's ability to regulate its temperature, meaning temperatures rise quickly causing major organ systems to shut down.