A harmless feel-good drug - that's the mistake too many young people make about ecstasy. Known as a "club drug" because it often is used in dance clubs and all-night dance parties called raves, ecstasy burst onto the social scene in the 1990s. By 2003, 1 in 12 eighth-graders said they had used the drug.

Ecstasy is far from being a risk-free part of a teen's social life. Dangerous as well as illegal, ecstasy has sent increasing numbers of people to emergency rooms while posing longer-term risks to the brains and bodies of those who use it.

Parents and caregivers can do a lot to set youth straight about the harm that ecstasy can cause. Yet all too often parents don't speak out.

A study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found that 9 in 10 parents know of ecstasy and see it as a danger to those who use it. Yet, parents are less likely to talk with their kids about ecstasy than any other drug. More than half of parents don't talk about ecstasy with their children while only 1 in 4 parents say they talk a lot about the drug.

So why the split between concern and conversation? One answer is that many parents do not know much about ecstasy. While most parents believe that ecstasy use is risky, almost half of them do not know the signs of use. Likewise, half of parents say they need to find out more about the dangers of using ecstasy. Most parents do not know what is in the drug.

This knowledge gap may reflect the fact that ecstasy became trendy among young party goers in the last decade. In contrast, parents may know more about drugs like marijuana and cocaine that have been around for many years.

Another reason parents may not talk about ecstasy seems to be that they simply don't believe their kid would use it. In the Partnership's survey, only 3 in 100 parents believed that their child had ever tried ecstasy.

However, ecstasy use among young people rises greatly during the teen years. In 2003, for example, about 1 in 31 eighth graders, 1 in 20 tenth graders, and 1 in 12 twelfth graders reported that they had used the drug at some time. Although ecstasy most commonly is used in the club scene, it also is used at home and in many other settings. In fact, ecstasy may be the choice of lonely teens.

Since teens admit to a much higher rate of use, it's a good idea to learn more about the drug. Let's start with a few basic facts to help you talk with your child about ecstasy:

• The drug makes the body less able to control its temperature and water content, most often putting users at risk of overheating and dehydration.
• Use of ecstasy can increase a person's heart rate and blood pressure
• Ecstasy can cause tension in the jaw and an urge to chew and clench one's teeth.
• For days after taking ecstasy, a person may feel depressed and slow.
• Those who use ecstasy may have trouble with short-term memory and may find it hard to focus their thoughts.
• Ecstasy users can't be sure how strong a dose of ecstasy is.
• Ecstasy use carries added risks since other drugs may be mixed with ecstasy, sometimes without a user's knowledge.
• Studies are being done to find out more about the long-term effects of ecstasy on the brain.

So, what signs of ecstasy use should you look for? Immediate and long-term clues include:

• Teeth grinding
• Mood swings
• Slurred speech
• Poor memory and lack of focus
• Academic slumps.

To learn more about ecstasy and to help your child understand that it is a dangerous drug of abuse, check out the resources listed below.

Tags: Substance Abuse and Teens

About the Author

SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.