How Long Does MDMA (Ecstasy & Molly) Stay in Your System?

How Long Does MDMA Last in the Body and by Type of Drug Tests?

There are many ways to detect MDMA in your system. Usually, the drug stays in your system and can be detected in your urine, hair follicles, spit, or blood. It's worth noting that different drug tests also offer different detection windows as MDMA stays in your system uniquely.

MDMA in Urine Tests

Urine tests provide accurate detection of at least one to three days (24 to 72 hours) since the last dose. Differences in urine pH may also influence how long MDMA is detected in a person's system.

MDMA in Hair Follicle Tests

Hair testing can detect MDMA and is the most accurate as it can identify the presence of the drug for up to 90 days (3 months) in a person's system.

MDMA in Saliva Tests

Saliva tests offer the shortest accuracy in terms of drug tests as Molly and ecstasy stay in your system's saliva for about 24 to 48 hours. It's also first detectable as early as 15 minutes since the last dose.

MDMA Detection in Blood Tests

Similar to saliva testing, blood tests can detect how long MDMA and ecstasy stay in the body for up to 48 hours. The drug is quickly absorbed and is easily detectable in the first 15 to 30 minutes after it's taken. It's one of the confirmation test methods used.

What are MDMA, Ecstasy, and Molly?

The Drug Enforcement Administration defines MDMA or ecstasy as:

"a potent club drug or party drug that acts both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, distortions in time and perception, and enhanced enjoyment of tactile experiences."

This synthetic and laboratory-made substance produces psychedelic effects similar to stimulants called "amphetamines." Back in the early days, it was a hit in the nightclub scene, particularly at all-night dance parties or "raves." The drug's effects lingered for at least three to six hours.

The drug is often ingested in its tablet form, crushed then snorted, or on rare occasions, smoked. Due to its stimulant properties, it automatically affects the central nervous system and is often used for its recreational effects.

Some of its effects on the body include increased energy, euphoria, feeling of empathy/closeness, and sometimes heightened sexuality. The controlled substance is under monitored as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. However, MDMA is not one of the five drugs screened on a standard drug test.

Determining Factors on How Long MDMA Stays in Your System

People who are currently undergoing treatment for their MDMA substance abuse may share different factors, regardless of whether the drug they're taking is coke & crack or even morphine. As our bodies are created uniquely, we understandably respond uniquely to the drug than other people.

Some can bounce back from drug use better than others, while some people may feel the severe impact of their addiction in the worst ways possible. This reason alone makes it harder for people to deal with their addiction recovery treatment. But it's not at all impossible to achieve.

Here are some of the determining factors that people must account for on how long MDMA lingers in your body.

• Age - Young adults have better coping mechanisms when it comes to processing drugs inside their system. Compared to seniors above 60, their body systems are still better at metabolizing these chemicals. Young adults or the youth also have developing organs, hence the faster digestion.
• Drug tolerance - Once a person has built tolerance from MDMA use, their system will have a harder time getting rid of the drug in their body. The main reason for this is that their bodies have become immune to the effects of drugs from prolonged use and the drug has built up through time.
• Poor-functioning kidney and liver - Someone experiencing organ or kidney failure due to too much exposure to drugs, will have a harder time excreting traces of MDMA in their system compared to people who have healthier liver and kidney functions.
• Body mass/weight - Some of the other factors to consider include a person's weight. An overweight/obese person may have a harder time processing the drug as the traces of MDMA may stick to their fatty tissues resulting in longer processing periods within the body.
• Regular drug abuse - if you use the drug for longer periods and in large amounts, you put yourself at higher risk of lessening the efficacy of your body in getting rid of toxins and chemicals.
• MDMA half-life - A half-life is defined as the amount of time the body can flush out half of the drug. For MDMA, the estimated time ranges from six to nine hours.

Here are some of the other factors to consider regarding how long MDMA stays in your system:

• Gender
• Physical activity
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Race/ethnicity
• Hydration

It's important to take into account these factors and discuss this with your recovery counselor if you think one or many of the enumerated risks will significantly affect your MDMA withdrawal.

What Happens When You Stop Taking MDMA?

When someone decides to cease their dependence on MDMA (or what others may refer to as MDMA withdrawal), our bodies may experience several physical signs that may affect someone's overall bodily function, or worse even their mental health. As the synthetic drug is extremely potent, adverse withdrawal symptoms may even manifest as well.

Here are some of the common withdrawal symptoms related to MDMA withdrawal:

• Lethargy
• Depressive state
• Feeling anxious
• Irritated mood
• Poor memory
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Decreased libido
• Hostile mood
• Mood swings
• decreased appetite
• Paranoia
• Poor motor skills
• Confusions
• Panic attacks
• Isolation
• Increase in body temperature
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations and delusions

It's important to note that when someone is undergoing adverse withdrawal symptoms during addiction treatment, they should immediately inform their consulting physician and get immediate medical attention. This is to avoid any adverse impact when seeking treatment, such as any fatal complications aligned to their withdrawal.

An individual may also benefit from recovery homes or by having a sober companion by their side to keep them guided and on track with their mental health and rehabilitation goals, as well as take note of any concerning issues about their withdrawal.

To better manage your withdrawal symptoms, you may practice the following:

• Observe a proper and balanced diet - As you wean yourself and recover from your ecstasy addiction, proper nourishment will play an important role to help you recover better.
• Try doing other alternative therapies to help with rehabilitation - Taking up art or music therapy such as painting, learning an instrument, or singing is highly beneficial in recovery. Sometimes, therapists will recommend equine therapy too. Engaging in productive hobbies improves your focus as result too.
• Practice mindfulness and meditation - When you meditate, you become more attuned with your mind and body. This nourishing exercise also helps you become more conscious of your surrounding and be one with yourself.

About MDMA Drug Abuse and Addiction Treatment

There are many reasons for people compelling them to use drugs long-term. It's not always something they wanted to do, it might have been driven by many triggers and factors culminating in their actual decision of using drugs. Some of these include the following:

• Pre-existing mental health conditions - Studies by the US drug enforcement administration and agencies, such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse have already proven the correlation between substance use disorders and mental illnesses.
• Stress and failure - Pressure to excel at work or school, and the constant stress individuals are taking as a result of this may drive them to find an escape, which sometimes can be an illicit drug or even other drugs to console them.
• Environment - People who are near sources of drugs have a higher chance of forming an addiction, especially given other variables.

Fortunately, there are ways to still recover from MDMA addiction. Here are some possible addiction treatment options you may avail yourself:

• Inpatient/Outpatient drug rehab therapy - This program may contain detoxification alongside other methods approved by the consulting recovery specialist to ensure that a person's recovery will be effective.
• Group therapy - Sometimes, the presence of people who went through and share experiences with the MDMA, whether old people or young adults, helps you cope better with your situation.
• Behavioral therapy - cognitive-behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are sometimes included without the use of drugs as a form of addiction treatment.

How To Get Help from MDMA, Ecstasy, and Molly Addiction?

Getting help for your MDMA, molly, or ecstasy addiction may seem like a challenging undertaking to achieve. But thankfully, there are many resources, such as addiction treatment centers, a sober living community, and organizations on drug rehabilitation helping individuals work on their recovery better.

Transcend Recovery Community is just one of these centers doing everything they can in helping people achieve lifelong sobriety. All you need is to send a message or call a recovery counselor and they can get you started on your recovery journey. What's better is that they'll recommend the most-suited option for you depending on your situation.

The path to recovery is now within reach. Contact Transcend Recovery Community's rehabilitation counselors today and start living a drug-free and meaningful life.

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