When crafty advertisers working the "just say no" campaign came up with the slogan "this is your brain on drugs" in the 1990s, they could very well have been talking specifically about Ecstasy addiction. While this recreational drug comes with the same withdrawal miseries that other drugs eventually lead to, there are many long term consequences that come from abusing Ecstasy.

Ecstasy addiction is nothing new to our society. It is one of the oldest and most well known types of recreational drugs and it has become known as a common party drug for people who attend raves and other types of wild concert events. There is something about spinning out of control on a Ecstasy trip while the lights swirl around and the music blares from oversized speakers that never fails to entertain those in the throws of an Ecstasy addiction.

The problem is that this drug is much more than just a highly addictive substance that will lead nowhere but to a bed in some rehab clinic or the floor of your bathroom drenched in uncontrollable sweat. Those are common ending scenarios to drug addictions in general, but Ecstasy addiction may not end with rehab.

There can be serious long term brain damage that results from Ecstasy addiction. The extent of the damage and exactly which facilities of the mind are affected may vary from one person to the next, but generally long term users can have difficulty remembering things, communicating fluently, and reasoning soundly for many years after they recover from the Ecstasy addiction.

Often, what attracts a user to Ecstasy is the sense of a suspension of reality and extreme happiness that comes from its use. Some people may experience a bad high as well, sometimes becoming extremely agitated, confused about what is happening around them, or extremely paranoid. This can lead to them acting out in unusual and potentially dangerous ways.

Also, people who continue to use this drug may have trouble sleeping and find it increasingly difficult to concentrate, focus on small details, and remember things. The longer the Ecstasy addiction continues the higher the chance that these negative side effects will continue for years into the future. They may even become permanent for many people.

The risk of such severe brain damage is what makes Ecstasy addiction so scary. It is important that people who find themselves addicted to this drug get help as soon as possible to reduce the extent of these damages, but since it is often seen as a fun party drug this doesn't happen in most cases.

While other drugs are becoming more popular in most circles of young people today, Ecstasy addiction continues to occur at alarming rates. There has been wide spread education about the serious consequences of using this drug, but it remains a party favorite for some groups of people.

Detox for Ecstasy addiction can be quite uncomfortable, but the worst part of it are the lingering problems that can continue to effect brain functioning for weeks or months after the use has been stopped.