Ecstasy & PTSD

What causes someone to turn to illegal drugs in the first place? Often it’s to dull some physical or emotional pain, and the drugs work – at least initially. Despite their harmful effects ranging from addiction to overdose to other health hazards, some are successful at numbing the pain from mental disorders including depression, bi-polar and trauma.

It’s like balancing on a tightrope. Even “good” drugs can be dangerous when not used under a doctor’s care and in conjunction with alternative methods including therapy to treat these problems. One drug that may have an unsuspected treatment possibility is the club drug Ecstacy (known clinically as MDMA).

Study Linking PTSD and MDMA

A recent study looked at 20 individuals suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to traumas ranging from sexual assault to combat stress and found that MDMA paired with ongoing counseling was more effective than counseling and a placebo. According to the Journal of Psychopharmacology, five out of six who took the drug improved to the point where they no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared to one in four in the placebo group.

Why does MDMA work in this situation? Ecstasy raises levels of serotonin and oxytocin, producing a feeling of euphoria and emotional warmth that helps patients connect with their therapists and process their trauma without “numbing out,” according to Michael Mithoefer, M.D., the lead author of the study.

Dangers of Ecstasy

Despite these promising results, experts strongly warn against self-medicating with MDMA. In addition to the dangers of the street drugs’ unreliability, Ecstasy carries the risk of depression, severe anxiety, and potential cognitive problems, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and was outlawed in 1985.

The study was funded by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a California-based nonprofit organization that also sponsors research on medical marijuana and psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin.

Club Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love is in need of a club drug rehab, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.