Ecstasy, otherwise known as MDMA, is a powerful synthetic psychoactive drug that is taken for its euphoric effects. Typically taken via pill, the effects can last for close to six hours and cause users to feel energized. These are the sort of effects endemic to “party drugs,” a soft sub-class of drugs that makes for feeling less inhibition and more general pleasure. Like every other party drug, however, ecstasy has a severe downside in the form of addictive behaviors and withdrawal symptoms.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to ecstasy, Footprints Beachside Recovery is dedicated to providing the Treasure Island area with the most personalized care possible. Contact us today at 727.513.5972 to ask about our ecstasy addiction treatment program before it’s too late.
When Ecstasy’s Effects Wear Off, It Isn’t Over
So, how long does ecstasy stay in your system? If you guessed around six hours, you’d be incorrect. As with most drugs, it tends to linger in your body much longer than the effects take to run their course. Even ecstasy, which has a comparatively long effect compared to other drugs, doesn’t come close to outlasting the identifiable remnants of its use.
Different parts of the body retain traces of MDMA for different amounts of time:
- Bloodstream — Three days
- Saliva — Just under three days
- Urine samples — 120 hours (five days)
- Hair — Varies based on hair length and how recently it was cut, up to several months
The clear outlier among these is hair. The microscopic structure of hair is especially conducive to trapping particles (for instance, in the case of nose hair as a particle trap). While bodily fluid samples are the usual route when being tested for drug use, a hair sample may be requested. If any hair from the last point of ecstasy use remains, a drug test will likely emerge with positive results.
Ecstasy content in hair, though, doesn’t impact the functionality of an individual’s body. When traces of the drug linger in the bloodstream, however, it can contribute negatively to overall health. Heavy ecstasy users will have a higher average content of bloodstream MDMA, which raises long-term health concerns.
Ecstasy Abuse, Detox, and Treatment
Still asking yourself, “how long does ecstasy stay in your system?” If you’re in a position where you think a drug test may pose an issue, chances are that a last-minute fix will be impossible. The only way to guarantee a negative result every time is to achieve complete sobriety. It isn’t an easy feat by any means, but in addition to ensuring your success on all drug screenings in the future, living without substance abuse can drastically improve your quality of life.
Many people addicted to ecstasy have tried to kick the habit of their own accord. This method isn’t just ineffective; it’s also medically unsafe. The withdrawal period is host to some especially damaging side effects, some of which may induce a fatal stroke. The purpose of a medically-guided detox is to ensure nothing of this sort can happen, but just detox alone isn’t going to keep most people off of abusing substances for long.
The Advantage of Evidence-Based Approaches at Footprints Beachside Recovery
That’s why, at Footprints Beachside Recovery, we emphasize the importance of a holistic and personalized treatment for drug addiction. When undergoing detox, it’s essential that our clients are able to redress the behaviors and underlying causes that brought them to an ecstasy addiction in the first place. Don’t spend another day living with ecstasy addiction. Contact us today online or by calling us at 727.513.5972 to learn how our evidence-based approach to rehab works and why personalized care makes all the difference.
