Treatment for Ecstasy Addiction

Ecstasy addiction can be treated with a variety of treatment approaches, such as inpatient treatment, outpatient care, and ongoing aftercare. 

Support groups can also be key to a lasting recovery, as they provide a support structure that can help to prevent relapse.

Treatment Approaches for Ecstasy Addiction

If you need treatment for ecstasy addiction, you can access one of these options:

Inpatient Treatment

Residential or inpatient treatment offers the most immersive treatment experience for ecstasy addiction. In this intensive program, you’ll live in the facility where you get care. You’ll receive around-the-clock care and support, limiting your potential for relapse during the vulnerable early period of recovery.

Inpatient treatment is often recommended for those with severe or long-term ecstasy addictions. No medication has been approved for the treatment of ecstasy addiction, but medications may be prescribed to treat certain symptoms of withdrawal or co-occurring disorders.

Therapy takes place in both individual and group settings. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular approach for addiction treatment, as it enables clients to connect negative thoughts to  damaging behaviors, such as ecstasy abuse.

Outpatient Care

If you haven’t been abusing ecstasy for long or your substance abuse issues are less severe, outpatient treatment might be the right choice for you. Outpatient treatment gives people more flexibility to receive treatment while maintaining a daily schedule outside of treatment. 

In this type of program, you’ll attend sessions several times per week, but you maintain work or home responsibilities. You’ll also live at home during treatment. 

The intensity of an outpatient treatment program will depend on the level of care needed. For example, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) provide a rigorous approach in an outpatient setting. Patients meet several days each week for several hours of therapy. This approach might work well for those who need intensive care but have a safe and supportive home environment.

Aftercare 

Aftercare is important, as you’ll be vulnerable to relapse after completing a formal treatment program. Aftercare means staying involved with therapy and support groups, which can give  you the needed encouragement to stay sober. 

The Importance of Treatment

If you’ve been regularly abusing ecstasy, treatment is the way to stop. While some people are able to successfully stop drug abuse on their own, it is unlikely without guidance and support. Addiction treatment increases the likelihood that you will stop abusing ecstasy and continue in recovery.

While addiction is a chronic disease, it can be successfully managed for life. Like other chronic conditions, like diabetes, you can live a long, healthy life while managing your addiction.

Following treatment, prolonged abstinence from drug use is a strong indicator that relapse is unlikely. Researchers found that almost 90 percent of patients who remain free of drugs after two years will also remain drug-free after 10 years.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment: Which One Is Better for Ecstasy A?

Inpatient care is more intense and ideal for someone who needs to be closely monitored during withdrawal. Some people may have a home environment that is not conducive to recovery, so inpatient treatment is preferred.

Inpatient treatment allows you to solely focus on recovery without distractions from work, family, or other life responsibilities. You’ll also have continual support from professionals who can help you build a strong foundation before you return to normal life. 

Outpatient treatment offers more flexibility and also costs less. Some insurance providers may first require that someone tries outpatient treatment to address their ecstasy addiction before they will cover the cost of inpatient care. 

With outpatient addiction treatment, you’ll have the opportunity to immediately put the lessons you learn in therapy into action. Some intensive outpatient programs are so comprehensive that they are similar to inpatient programs but without the component of residing at the facility.

Life After Rehabilitation

In treatment for ecstasy addiction, you can acquire skills that will serve you for a lifetime in recovery. You’ll notice changes mentally, physically, and emotionally. 

Here are some of the things you can expect after treatment:

Improved Physical Health

Regular ecstasy use can cause a number of negative physical effects, such as dehydration, appetite loss, nausea, confusion, muscle stiffness, headaches, and chills. After a period of sustained sobriety, these symptoms should subside, and physical health should improve.

Mental & Emotional Improvements

Ecstasy has a detrimental effect on mental acuity, but after a period of recovery, cognitive improvements will be seen. You’ll experience clearer thinking, better memory abilities, and an improved ability to focus and make decisions.

Depression is often associated with the comedown from ecstasy. When use stops, mood should begin to stabilize and improve.

Increased Self-Confidence

By learning to manage your ecstasy abuse, you’ll feel a better sense of self. This will bring a new sense of inner autonomy and strength. 

This renewed sense of purpose often translates to gains at work, school, and in familial and social relationships.

Better Life Prospects

When you stop abusing ecstasy, you’ll see improvements in virtually every area of life. This translates into better career prospects, more financial stability, more fulfilling relationships, and better overall well-being.

Support Groups for Ecstasy Addiction

Support groups play an important role for many people in recovery from addiction. When people think of peer support groups, they often think of the 12-step model associated with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, but these groups come in many forms. 

Here are some of the options that may work for those in recovery from ecstasy addiction:

• Narcotics Anonymous
• LifeRing Secular Recovery
• SMART Recovery

Many addiction treatment programs offer addiction support groups at their facilities as part of their programs. Some also host alumni meetings where graduates of programs can find ongoing support and encouragement.