Advice needed

[Fluffy]

Has anyone had any experience with taking or having friends who take class A drugs? My friend is currently taking ecstacy and I am very worried about her.

I am I overreacting or selfish to be hurt by her actions? How can I help her when Im feeling so bad about it myself? I feel like I will just make the situation worse.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thankyou.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I know nothing about ecstasy other than what I've heard on the news, but with hard drugs the question often comes down to - worst case - whether you would prefer a dead friend, or a live friend who hates you because you cared enough to intervene. As a first step, you might wish to see if there is a relevant support group in the area and contact them for advice.

 

[Druidus]

First, how often does she take it?

You are definately not being selfish here. If you genuinely care for her, it is your responsibility to help her, even if she thinks she doesn't need help. I don't know much about ecstacy, so I can't help there, but I advise you to research it, in depth. Remember to watch for bias, look for reports that consider both good things and bad things.

Have you talked to her about this, at all? How did she respond?

Edit: Deut has very good advice. Look for a support group nearby, if you can find one, as I'm sure they could give you very good advice.

 

[Saw11_2000]

Supposedly ecstacy puts a hole in your brain every time you do it. It messes you up, I had a friend who had her food spiked with it. She was really messed up.

 

[jewscout]

first i have to ask is whether she is doing X regurlarly or not....

i've done my share of experimenting and done it once or twice...now it can be a pretty sketchy drug to take because it can be cut w/ other stuff to make it 10 times worse...

my thing is if she is rolling on X regurlary and becoming and "E-phene" then you need to do what you can to stop her, support group, intervention whatever. I've known friends who became regular E-phenes and it completely changes them...that crap burns holes in your brain and they always looked like they were rolling ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE WEREN'T

it's not something to really be endulging in as a habit...i'd say do what you can but the most important thing is to be there for her as a support and a friend...

i pray everything works out:162:

 

[Cr0wley]

The risk of death from Ecstasy use is extremely low. Between 1988 and 1997 some 50-100 UK deaths have been connected to Ecstasy use. The current rate is 7 deaths per million users per year. More people die fishing or eating peanuts.

The US figures are much lower, only one death per million users, largely due to the enduring preference for warehouse or outdoor parties rather than hot packed-out nightclubs. There is also less of a booze culture amongst American kids. Most E-related deaths are related to alcohol-consumption and over-heating.

From http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com


Possibly the most objective drug site on the net

I am I overreacting or selfish to be hurt by her actions? How can I help her when Im feeling so bad about it myself? I feel like I will just make the situation worse.

Well, you might just make her mad at you, but she'll realise that you actually care later. It sucks to be in your position, just don't get dragged into it yourself.

 

[anami]

Has anyone had any experience with taking or having friends who take class A drugs? My friend is currently taking ecstacy and I am very worried about her.

There is a big diference between MDMA the chemical and the drug out for the most part. If it is a pressed tablet it is not what she thinks she is taking.
MDMA wont stick to itself, it is a crystal that is scraped to make a powder. This causes you do produce lots of seratonin, among a few other things making you pretty happy. It also puts you into a state of perfect acceptance. This is why it was used for psycological counciling before it was made a scheduled drug. It is very difficult to overdose on this as you simply stop producing seratonin and get really depressed and the MDMA no longer has effect. If you use it too often it will cease to work.

To make a pressed tablet you have to put other things in it to make it stick. Most of it is usually methamphetamine, which is a whole other story. Mathamphetamine is far more dangerous than MDMA. You may want to piont out to your friend, that she doesn't even know what she is taking.

I am I overreacting or selfish to be hurt by her actions? How can I help her when Im feeling so bad about it myself? I feel like I will just make the situation worse.

Experimentation is normal, but in a society of instant gratification, abuse is common. The best aid to mind your moderation is your friend. Even if it doesn't seem like they are listening your opinion is important to them. Otherwise they wouldn't be your friend.

How are you feeling bad?
How do you feel you will make the situation worse?

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thankyou.

The very best books on MDMA and methamphetamine for that matter, was written by the scientist who synthesised both MDMA and a synthetic form of DMT. "Tikal" By Sasha and Ann Shulgin. There are two sides to the book. The story, or explanation, and the actual information about the substance, it's effects and it's side effects. You can even see what the molecules are made of. Good stuff. "Pikal" is also good it's about phenelamines.

Gotta love their sense of humor, They are abriviations of "Tryptamines i have known and loved" and "Phenelymines i have known and loved"

 

[anami]

Supposedly ecstacy puts a hole in your brain every time you do it. It messes you up, I had a friend who had her food spiked with it. She was really messed up.

Exctasy does not "put a hole in your head".
The worst thing it can do is damage your seratonin receptors, causing you to be really depressed. Don't spread false rumors!
:tsk:


www.dancesafe.org

 

[jewscout]

Exctasy does not "put a hole in your head".
The worst thing it can do is damage your seratonin receptors, causing you to be really depressed. Don't spread false rumors!
:tsk:


www.dancesafe.org

whether it's because of "burning holes in their head" or because of "seratonin receptors" (wait aren't those in your head?) i'll leave for the scientists to debate...all i know is it changes people and i can't say it was for the better....

 

[Fluffy]

I know nothing about ecstasy other than what I've heard on the news, but with hard drugs the question often comes down to - worst case - whether you would prefer a dead friend, or a live friend who hates you because you cared enough to intervene. As a first step, you might wish to see if there is a relevant support group in the area and contact them for advice.

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. For distance reasons, a support group might not be able to give the kind of advice they are used to giving but it is definitely worth a try.

First, how often does she take it?

As far as I am aware this is the first time she has tried this particular drug. She has done no drugs for quite awhile after getting into debt about a year ago because of a cocaine addiction.

Have you talked to her about this, at all? How did she respond?

We havent so much talked about it as fought about it. I think she knew I was not going to react badly to this and went on the offensive before I could and I certainly didnt help matters. Plus it was all on MSN which complicated it further.

i'd say do what you can but the most important thing is to be there for her as a support and a friend...

I know and thanks for stressing this because I need to be kept being told this till I stop being selfish and follow this piece of advice. It is such a difficult thing to do when you are so close to the situation. Your own feelings get in the way.

From http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com

Thanks very much for this site Cr0wley. I think Ill be using it a lot.

How are you feeling bad?
How do you feel you will make the situation worse?

I feel bad because I love her very deeply and she is being very self destructive and when she hurts, it hurts me as well. Also she has to take a variety of medication, such as anti-depressents, sleeping pills and ADHD pills, and I am worried about the effects which these combined with ecstacy might have.

I am very close to her and as such it makes me react in a very bad way when she is hurt. It makes me want to lash out at what is hurting her. This is not good when the thing that is hurting her is herself.

Thanks to everyone for your advice/info/prayers, frubals to you all. Ill keep you updated if you like.
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/

 

[kreeden]

Talk to her Fluffy , and LISTEN . You may not get the answers you want , but if you keep an open mind , she will know that you care .

Other then that , I can only wish you luck , and point you in these people's direction . I know a few people who are members of N.A. , and know that it works for those who want it to work .

http://www.na.org/

 

[anami]

whether it's because of "burning holes in their head" or because of "seratonin receptors" (wait aren't those in your head?) i'll leave for the scientists to debate...all i know is it changes people and i can't say it was for the better....

There is a huge difference between a hole in the head and damaging regeneraple parts. Yes, they are in your head, but again, no holes.

i know it changes people too, and not always for the worse.

 

[anami]

I feel bad because I love her very deeply and she is being very self destructive and when she hurts, it hurts me as well. Also she has to take a variety of medication, such as anti-depressents, sleeping pills and ADHD pills, and I am worried about the effects which these combined with ecstacy might have.

So she makes her choices, you take what you assume of her pain onto yourself and get mad at her about it. Take a breath and give her a hug. Sometimes the reciever of tough love doesn't know it is love.
So you don't really wan't info on the safest drug on the list, you need to help her kick the kill everything habit of the so much more dangerous variety of drugs, OTC! i wouldn't worry any extra for the ADHD drugs, those are just mathamphetamines and she is getting that in what she thinks is exctasy anyway.

I am very close to her and as such it makes me react in a very bad way when she is hurt. It makes me want to lash out at what is hurting her. This is not good when the thing that is hurting her is herself.

Thanks to everyone for your advice/info/prayers, frubals to you all. Ill keep you updated if you like.
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/

 

[Quoth The Raven]

So you don't really wan't info on the safest drug on the list, you need to help her kick the kill everything habit of the so much more dangerous variety of drugs, OTC! i wouldn't worry any extra for the ADHD drugs, those are just mathamphetamines and she is getting that in what she thinks is exctasy anyway.

Depending on what anti-depressants she's on, the sleeping pills are probably contra-indicated anyway.
And actually, if she's getting any MDMA in the 'ecstacy' she's taking, there could be reason for quite a large concern over the ADHD drugs. Studies by Sydney University have shown that combining MDMA and methamphetamines results in an immediate and large spike in body temperature - which has the potential to be fatal. Even after brief exposure - the equivalent of 2 seperate doses over a 'weekend', even three months later the subjects showed increased anxiousness, risk of depression when confronted with stress, as well as some memory loss. All correlated to a loss of seratonin.
This particular study was on rats,(which react the same way to these drugs as humans do), however a number of studies on humans (special issue of Psychopharmacology released in June 2004)show that over the long term there are problems with depression and cognitive impairments in ecstacy users. Subtle problems, but they're still there.

 

[anami]

Depending on what anti-depressants she's on, the sleeping pills are probably contra-indicated anyway.
And actually, if she's getting any MDMA in the 'ecstacy' she's taking, there could be reason for quite a large concern over the ADHD drugs. Studies by Sydney University have shown that combining MDMA and methamphetamines results in an immediate and large spike in body temperature - which has the potential to be fatal. Even after brief exposure - the equivalent of 2 seperate doses over a 'weekend', even three months later the subjects showed increased anxiousness, risk of depression when confronted with stress, as well as some memory loss. All correlated to a loss of seratonin.
This particular study was on rats,(which react the same way to these drugs as humans do), however a number of studies on humans (special issue of Psychopharmacology released in June 2004)show that over the long term there are problems with depression and cognitive impairments in ecstacy users. Subtle problems, but they're still there.

Yes, so i reassert this very important part
MDMA= relativly safe
Methamphetamine mixed with MDMA = danger or death!!!

If you eat a pressed tablet you are taking a mix!!!!
If it is a powder or powder in a gel cap it is far more likely to be pure.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN YOUR BODY!!!!!!!

"Tikal" and "Pikal" By (Alexander) Sasha and Ann Shulgin