COOL DOWN
- Most MDMA medical emergencies are often due to hyperthermia (heat stroke)
- The more MDMA that you take, the higher your body temperature will be
What is Serotonin?
First of all, let’s look at what serotonin is and what it does. Serotonin is something called a “neurotransmitter.” Essentially, it’s a chemical that is produced by your brain and in your GI tract that helps transmit messages from one organ system to the rest of your body. It’s sometimes known as the “happy chemical,” because it is thought to contribute to your overall wellbeing and happiness. It can also play a role in muscle function, appetite, emotions, and even your mood.
What is Serotonin Syndrome?
Serotonin syndrome occurs when you have too much serotonin in your body, usually because you are taking medications that cause it to accumulate quickly. This syndrome can happen if you increase a dosage of a medication that increases serotonin, mix supplements with certain medications, or take certain illegal drugs. Some medications and drugs that can cause serotonin syndrome are:
This is not a complete list of medications and substances that can cause serotonin syndrome, so it’s important to check with your doctor before increasing a dose or starting a new medication.
Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can range from incredibly mild to severe, and usually occur within a few hours of taking a drug or supplement. Common symptoms to watch for include:
Serotonin syndrome can be dangerous and life-threatening. Severe symptoms include:
Serotonin syndrome is a medical emergency. If you have recently started taking a drug or have recently increased your dosage and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s important to call your doctor as soon as possible. If you or any of your friends are experiencing the above severe symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
What Causes Serotonin Syndrome?
The most common cause of serotonin syndrome is a buildup of serotonin in your body after changing, adding, or increasing the dose of a medication that is meant to increase serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome is not usually caused by just taking one medication, but rather combining medications. For example, someone who takes an anti-depressant every day wakes up with a migraine and takes medicine for it. The anti-depressant itself will not cause serotonin syndrome, but combining the migraine medication with the anti-depressant puts that person at a higher risk for developing it.
Have questions about using 5HTP at a festival?
Check out Using 5HTP on Festival Day. Safe or Unsafe?
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The difference between drug abuse and drug addiction is small, but it’s there. Drug abuse is when you are using a drug recreationally but not in the way in which it was intended to be used. For example, if you take Percocet during a rave to help yourself have a good time, but not for your pain related to your surgery you had a year ago. You don’t need to take the Percocet to function, but you want to take it to enhance your experience at the rave. Drug addiction is when you have to take a drug at regular intervals throughout the day to function or to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. An example of this would be having to take Percocet throughout the day to avoid being nauseous, shaky, or in pain. Drug addiction starts with a person abusing drugs, but not everyone that uses drugs will become addicted. For example, someone can smoke weed once or twice at a party but not need to do it all the time. Conversely, someone can smoke weed a few times and then want to try other drugs, like cocaine. After trying cocaine a few times, that person can develop a need to use more and more cocaine to achieve the high that they had with their first cocaine experience -- this is the beginning of an addiction.
Here are some methods to help you cope with a drug addiction. This list is not intended to be medical advice. If you think you have a problem with drug addiction, you should ask for help from a medical professional immediately.
The first, and probably the most important, step in coping with drug addiction is recognizing that you have an addiction. You may notice that you are wanting to do drugs outside of a party setting, away from other people, and more often than usual. You may notice that if you don’t take drugs, your work and personal life are not enjoyable, and you cannot do things that you normally would do. If this sounds like you, you may have a problem with drug addiction.
Drug addiction has both physical and mental warning signals, and it’s important to understand both. Physical warning signs of being addicted to drugs include: feeling sick when trying to stop using drugs, shaking, changes in weight (loss or gain), and having to take more of the drug to get the same experience you had the first time you used it. Mental warning signals of drug addiction can include: needing drugs to get through everyday tasks, withdrawing from family and/or friends, only hanging out with friends that do drugs, and increased anxiety, depression, or mood swings. This is not an all-inclusive list, but these are important things to watch out for.
Drug addiction is not something you can solve alone, and the symptoms and side effects are things that you will need support to get through. If you think you may be addicted to drugs, find a close friend or relative that you feel comfortable talking to and tell them about your struggle. You never know, there may be people close to you that are going through something very similar and know how to get you the help you need. Stopping drug use is very difficult to do on your own, and there is nothing wrong with seeking professional help for drug addiction.
Drug addiction is something that many people have suffered from, and there is no reason to do it alone. Talking to someone who has been in your shoes and gotten through recovery can be extremely helpful, especially during challenging times when you may want to go back to using drugs. Increased anxiety and depression during a drug addiction is another reason to reach out, those feelings should never be dealt with alone. These feelings can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions, and there are people out there who can help you get through it.
If you have decided to stop using drugs, there are many things you can do to help move your recovery along. Avoid people and places that encourage you to do drugs. Find a sponsor that has been through something similar and talk to them when you feel like you want to use drugs. Talk to your friends and family about your decision to stop using drugs, and ask them to support you.
Hopefully, this list has provided you with some ways to cope with drug addiction and ways to identify if you or someone you care about may be addicted to drugs. Remember, it is always best to seek help from a licensed professional for drug addiction.
Resources:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Understanding Drug Use and Addiction
This is a great article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that goes into detail about what drug abuse is and how it can be treated and prevented.
This article from WebMD is an in-depth look at the signs and symptoms of drug addiction.
]]>Drug use -- whether it is one time, frequent drug abuse, or full-blown drug addiction, can have an extremely negative impact on a person’s psychological and physical well-being. In this post, we’ll take a look at the ways a person’s mind and body are affected after using drugs.
Physical Effects of Drug Use
The human body is an amazing thing, full of organs and body systems that are all able to communicate with each other through electrical impulses and chemical processes. However, once you introduce drugs into your body, you are introducing something that prevents those systems from working and communicating as they normally do. Drugs are hard on your body, even if you are using them recreationally. Long term, drugs can have a negative effect on all of your vital organs and can affect how they function. Short term, they can have deadly side effects. Here are some ways your body is physically affected by drug use:
Psychological Effects of Drug Use
We’ve talked about the physical effects of drugs, but what about the effects of drug use on your mental health? When you compare drug users with non-drug users, drug users are twice as likely to be suffering from an anxiety or mood disorder. In people that already have underlying mental health issues, drugs can increase the amount of symptoms they experience. While not everyone who uses drugs will become addicted, there is always a chance, and it is higher in those that have a family history of addiction, or have been addicted to something in the past. In addition to these, drug users may experience:
Drug use in all forms, even when only used occasionally, can cause permanent damage to your physical and psychological well-being. If you or someone you know is having problems with drug abuse or addiction, there are many resources out there to give you the help you need. If you are experiencing problems with drug addiction, visit the SAMHSA National Hotline website, or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you are a friend or family member looking to support someone you love, see our previous post on supporting friends suffering from drug addiction.
Resources
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else's addiction. As a twelve-step program, we offer our help by sharing our experience, strength, and hope.
]]>When someone you love is addicted to drugs, it can be hard to figure out ways to help them navigate the road to recovery. Often times, the road to recovery is paved with setbacks and heartbreak, for both those who are addicted to drugs and those who are trying to help them. It can often seem easier to ignore the situation at hand because it’s so overwhelming. However, ignoring the situation can make it worse for everyone involved. Here, we’ll explore some ways you can be supportive and help your friend or family member through one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Understanding Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is when you have to take a drug at regular intervals throughout the day to function or to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. An example of this would be having to take Percocet throughout the day to avoid being nauseous, shaky, or in pain. Drug addiction starts with a person abusing drugs, but not everyone that uses drugs will become addicted. For example, someone can smoke weed once or twice at a party but not need to do it all the time. Conversely, someone can smoke weed a few times and then want to try other drugs, like cocaine. After trying cocaine a few times, that person can develop a need to use more and more cocaine to achieve the high that they had with their first cocaine experience -- this is the beginning of an addiction. Reasons, why they are using the drugs, may change – it may no longer be to have fun at a party, it may now be that they are using drugs to deal with problems at home or work. They may need drugs to function during the day to avoid physical withdrawal symptoms. Watch out for any unusual behavior that is out of character for your loved one, since it can vary from person to person. Drug addiction has both physical and mental warning signals, and it’s important to understand both. Physical warning signs of being addicted to drugs include: feeling sick when trying to stop using drugs, shaking, changes in weight (loss or gain), and having to take more of the drug to get the same experience you had the first time you used it. Mental warning signals of drug addiction can include: needing drugs to get through everyday tasks, withdrawing from family and/or friends, only hanging out with friends that do drugs, and increased anxiety, depression, or mood swings. This is not an all-inclusive list, but these are important things to watch out for.
How Can I Help?
The first step you can take is educating yourself about the problem at hand. Learn about the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction, warning signs, possible causes, and ways to support ongoing recovery efforts. This is the first, and arguably most important step in helping someone who suffers from addiction. If you show that you understand what they’re going through, they may be more likely to talk to you about it.
This is one of the harder things you will have to do in your efforts to support your loved one. It’s commonly said that the first step in recovery is to admit you have a problem, and you may find that you have to initiate the conversation about your concerns. This is an incredibly important step, talking about your concerns and how they are affecting your loved one and those around them. Try to avoid being accusatory, remain calm even if they get upset. Remember that you only have good intentions, and that one day they will see that. If you think it’s appropriate, gather other close friends or family who have similar concerns for support during this difficult conversation.
Once your loved one has decided to pursue rehabilitation or other avenues to recovery, it’s important to remember that your support doesn’t end there. Be present during all stages of the recovery process. Recovery can be physically, emotionally, and mentally tough, so it’s important to understand that and be empathetic. Listen to them! Encourage your loved one to talk about what they’re going through. Understand their triggers and help them to avoid situations that may lead them to resume drug use.
Recovery from drug addiction doesn’t ever end, it is a lifelong struggle that your loved one will face. Be the support that they need, always have an ear for listening and a shoulder to cry on if they need it. Continue to educate yourself on addiction and recovery so that you can continue to understand what they are going through.
Drug addiction and recovery are life-changing for all those involved. With these tips, you can be a beacon of support through your loved one’s tough time. For more information, see the below resources.
Resources
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Support for Families of Addicts
This is a great website devoted to supporting those who are dealing with a loved one’s addiction to substances.
The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else's addiction. As a twelve-step program, we offer our help by sharing our experience, strength, and hope.
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Hazelden Betty Ford offers a wide variety of educational resources and support services to help family members learn how to heal from the effects of a loved one’s addiction. With care and support, your family can work through the chaos you've experienced, understand how to set healthy boundaries, gain new communication skills, and begin to rebuild a trusting relationship with your loved one.
]]>Do a google search on rave safety and the information you will find is 95% written by what we call “Websperts” with very limited education on the subject. Our goal is to debunk some of the misinformation on Reddit and other sources with facts from medical doctors.
Today, we are going to put this debacle to rest with EVIDENCE-BASED FACTS! So when you see fake news, share the facts!
Our physician partners have worked in the medical tents at events such as EDC, Electric Zoo, and more. Serotonin Syndrome DOES HAPPEN. However, in nearly every case there is a 2nd agent involved, such as an SSRI, SNRI, MAOI, or Zofran.
We have SCOURED the internet and asked our partners for any cases of 5-HTP induced Serotonin Syndrome and could NOT FIND ONE DOCUMENTED CASE!
As far as taking 100mg or less of 5-HTP on the festival day – evidence shows this will not add increased risk. In fact, this dose is intended to make you feel great throughout the festival, every single day! Rave Healthy Rave Fam!
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