MDMA-Related ER Visits Increased 128 Percent in the Last 6 Years

A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that MDMA-related visits have increased by a shocking 129 percent in just the last six years. The report also indicates that visits among individuals younger than 21 years has jumped from 4,460 in 2005 to over 10,000 in 2011.

"These findings raise concerns about the increase in popularity of this potentially harmful drug, especially in young people. Ecstasy is a street drug that can include other substances that can render it even more potentially harmful. We need to increase awareness about this drug's dangers and take other measures to prevent its sue," Peter Delany, MD, SAMSHA's director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Statistics and Quality said, via a press release.

The Drug Policy Alliance notes that a typical dose of MDMA (also known as Molly) is around 100 to 125 mg and typically lasts four to six hours. The effects of the drug resemble both stimulants and psychedelics, according to the organization.

As more throughout the United States are using the product, especially in the club seen, health organizations note that the drug can cause body temperature to increase to a dangerously high levels that may increase the risk of renal and cardiac failure.

This pure form of ecstasy is often mixed with high amounts of alcohol, which can also be linked to higher rates of distortion of sense or perception of time.

And unfortunately, the drug is often popularized in music and by many celebrities, despite ample cause for concern with the illegal compounds.

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More information regarding the report can be found on the SAMSHA website.