What should you eat after rolling

This may include the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones. Key functions like heart rate and blood pressure may increase, redirecting blood flow into the muscles and away from the gut. As a nervous system stimulant, ecstasy works by prompting the brain to initiate this 'fight or flight' response and the user feels refreshed by a burst of energy.

Ecstasy is renowned for the feelings of peace and love it invokes. This could be caused by an elevation in brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.

People with certain conditions — such as epilepsy , high blood pressure , heart disease , diabetes , kidney disease or mood or psychiatric disorders — are at greater risk of harm if they take ecstasy. Ecstasy can be dangerous if it is mixed with other drugs including alcohol , cocaine , amphetamines , ice and some prescription medications such as antidepressants.

In addition to these symptoms, people who take ecstasy in large or strong doses, may experience further effects such as:. Symptoms may last a few days and include:. If the strength of the dose is high or if ecstasy is taken in large amounts, it can cause bad reactions or overdose. Signs to watch include:. If you suspect an overdose or severe reaction while using ecstasy, dial triple zero to call an ambulance immediately.

Don't delay because you think you might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are not obliged to call the police.

Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Tell the ambulance officers as much as you can about what drugs were taken, when they were taken and whether the person has a medical condition. There has been little research on the long-term effects of taking ecstasy.

Studies suggest that problems may include:. It is unknown whether ecstasy is a drug of addiction. Many users say that it is hard to stop taking the drug and may indicate that it is possible to become psychologically dependent.

Like many other drugs, someone can build up a tolerance to ecstasy. This means they need to take larger and larger doses to try and achieve the same effect. However, this also tends to increase the intensity of unpleasant side effects. The drug known as 'liquid ecstasy' is a different drug to ecstasy. In recent years, synthetic products, claiming to have similar effects to ecstasy, have also been available in Australia.

The active ingredient in these products can include chemicals — such as benzylpiperazine BZP , mephedrone or methylenedioxypyrovalerone MDPV , but it is difficult to know what exactly they contain. Treatment options for drug use include:. See your doctor for information and referral or contact an alcohol and other drug service in your area. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.

Asking for help when you first suspect you have an alcohol or drug problem is important. If you think you have an addiction, speak to your local doctor or phone DirectLine. Paramedics are there to help.

It is best not to use any drugs during pregnancy. Most drugs have some effect on the unborn baby if the mother uses them while pregnant. Inform antenatal staff of cannabis use and attend regular antenatal checkups.

It is possible that using ecstasy when pregnant increases the risk of miscarriage. It is possible that if a mother uses ecstasy while breastfeeding the drug will be present in her milk, and may have adverse effects on the baby. It is generally risky to take any drug while breastfeeding without medical advice.

Using ecstasy is illegal. If you use, sell or give ecstasy to someone else and get caught, you could face substantial fines and penalties including a prison sentence. Ecstasy can make you feel more confident when you drive.

This can make you take dangerous risks and have accidents. It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, including ecstasy as you could lose your licence for a set time or be fined. Anyone under the influence of ecstasy who kills or injures another person while driving can be sentenced to a term in prison.

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs 24 hours, 7 days a week, call the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline It will automatically direct you to the Alcohol and Drug Service in the state or territory you are calling from. The COVID pandemic continues to change lives in many different ways, to support the community we have developed a range of alcohol and other drug specific resources to help you with accessing services and support you with any stress and anxiety you may be experiencing.

We will continue to update this page as new resources and information becomes available. For information on access to free naloxone opioid overdose reversing medicine , visit ' Take home naloxone — a key component in COVID preparedness '. Please note: The take home naloxone program includes instructions for performing rescue breathing and chest compressions.

What are my rights when negotiating my treatment during this time? People who test positive for COVID and are currently undergoing treatment for alcohol and other drug dependence can continue with their program. Talk to your service provider to discuss your treatment in the event you test positive. The app is a useful tool in this time of social distancing and isolation as it provides you with an opportunity to manage your alcohol consumption in times of stress and anxiety. The Get Healthy Service Alcohol Reduction Program is also available for people who want to reduce their alcohol consumption to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and a healthier lifestyle.

The Alcohol Reduction Program is open to anyone aged 18 years and over. The fact sheet provides advice and information on protecting your health while using drugs during the COVID pandemic. In this time of unprecedented concern about our collective health and livelihoods, it is more important than ever to remain socially connected and physically healthy.

There is no excuse for violence and abuse. If you or someone you care about is experiencing domestic and family violence there are services available to provide support.

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, please call Police on triple zero. Women can also contact the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 65 64 63 for support, counselling and referral to ongoing support. The service is free, confidential and open to anyone affected by alcohol and other drugs, including people concerned about their own use, or about a family member or friend.

Web chat is only available for people living in NSW. To start a web chat counselling session read and accept the 'Terms and Conditions of Use' below. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a drug and alcohol counsellor over the phone, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug helpline on which will direct you to your state service.

Monday to Friday 8. Music festivals are the highlight of the calendar. You're psyched to be seeing your favourite artists, hanging out with mates, meeting new people and having an awesome experience. To make sure the fun doesn't stop for you and your mates, it's important to know how to party safe and stay OK. Preparation is paramount to the ultimate festival experience. Planning for what could happen in the event you or someone else needs help because of alcohol or drug use is just as key as your wardrobe, bum-bag game, road trip playlist, phone and other essentials.

Family Drug Support FDS provides support and assistance to families throughout Australia who are experiencing difficulty with a family member using alcohol or other drugs.

FDS is a non-religious, non-judgemental and caring organisation of volunteers who have first-hand experience living with family members experiencing alcohol or drug dependency. FDS supports families by providing information about alcohol and other drugs, dependence and treatment options, while also helping families to overcome stigma and reduce self-blame, provide mutual support and help families build skills to strengthen their relationships.

FDS provide a 24 hour, 7 days a week support line for families, support groups and meetings, the 'Stepping Stones' and 'Stepping Forward' courses, events and resources.

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are periods of significant brain growth and development. Scientists call the adolescent brain highly 'neuroplastic' because it is a time of organising, construction and strengthening of connections in the brain. Because the brain is highly neuroplastic during brain development teens up to 25 years of age there is the risk of damage. The way a drug effects a person depends on which part of the brain it targets.

Some drugs have far reaching effects, for example alcohol can reach three areas of the brain where important functions occur, whilst other drugs may be more localised and specific, for example MDMA is attracted to the limbic system and binds strongly to areas such as the hypothalamus.

Because we are all different, the effects can vary from person to person and be more harmful for some. Alcohol is a depressant which is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

It can affect the brain within five minutes of consumption absorption may be slower if the person has recently eaten. Drinking, particularly heavy drinking, at any time before, during and after brain development, can have a negative effect on the way the brain works. Early alcohol use may interrupt cell growth in the frontal lobe of the brain, an area which does not reach full maturity until a person reaches their mid-twenties.

The frontal lobe of the brain controls higher mental processes such as planning. Drinking alcohol interferes with brain development and harms can include poor attention, poor decision making and disrupts the ability to forward plan — impacting on mental health and educational performance and completion.

Most fatalities from taking ecstasy are a result of a combination of factors , not just the drug itself. Any unusual or unwanted symptoms experienced while taking ecstasy should be treated as soon as they appear. Read more: Six reasons Australia should pilot 'pill testing' party drugs.

In fact, drugs are much more dangerous because they are unregulated, manufactured by backyard chemists in clandestine laboratories. Pills can contain other more dangerous drugs that mimic the effects of MDMA, and benign substances, such as lactose, as filler agents.

Some of the more dangerous contaminants found in pills include PMA paramethoxyamphetamine , which is more toxic at lower doses than ecstasy; N-Ethylpentylone , a cathinone which is a lot more potent than MDMA making it easier to take too much; and NBOMes N-methoxybenzyl , which is more toxic at lower doses than other hallucinogenic drugs and can cause heart attack, renal failure, and stroke. Sometimes these drug mixes are unexpected and sometimes people take multiple drugs deliberately.

Read more: While law makers squabble over pill testing, people should test their drugs at home. Heatstroke or hyperthermia dangerously high body temperature is one of the most common issues among people taking MDMA. MDMA increases body temperature and sweating, and using it is often accompanied by physical activity such as dancing in a hot environment such as a crowded venue or in the summer heat , exacerbating fluid loss.

The effect of ecstasy can be exacerbated by consuming alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it makes you urinate more and increases dehydration. Dehydration increases risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke can cause brain, heart, kidney and muscle damage, and if left untreated can cause serious complications or death. If active, people taking MDMA should drink around ml two cups of water an hour and take regular breaks.