Ecstasy addiction rehabilitation at Priory typically takes place as part of our comprehensive Addiction Treatment Programme. This consists of you staying at one of our specialist hospital sites on a residential basis for the duration of this time, where you can undergo supported withdrawal, before commencing with individual and group addiction therapy in order to address the source of your addiction, reduce your symptoms, and take steps towards the healthy, fulfilling, and addiction-free life that you deserve. Priory’s Addiction Treatment Programmes typically last for 28 days. However, whilst 28 days is the recommended treatment time for ecstasy addiction, the length of your addiction treatment journey at Priory can be flexible according to your unique commitments and requirements.

MDMA addiction treatment at Priory is based on the well-known 12-Step addiction treatment approach. The 12-Step model is an abstinence-based philosophy that was first introduced by the organisation Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and it is used worldwide in the treatment of a broad range of substance and behavioural addictions. The 12-Step approach provides a set of guiding principles for the addiction treatment and rehabilitation journey, and focuses on your motivation to change your unhealthy thought patterns and addictive behaviours, whilst also incorporating elements of spirituality within the process.

The MDMA addiction treatment that we offer at Priory is flexible and personalised according to you unique needs and circumstances. Our leading Addiction Treatment Programmes consist of:

• Free, no obligation addiction assessment, allowing you to discuss your concerns in confidence, receive guidance on our tried and tested treatment options, and start your journey towards rehabilitation and recovery - book your appointment today
• Supported withdrawal for your MDMA/ecstasy addiction
• Individual 1:1 therapy and structured group therapy programmes
• Family and couples therapy programmes
• Access to both on and off-site 12-Step support groups, specifically tailored to your unique addiction
• Free aftercare for 12 months following treatment (aftercare is provided for life following treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton)
• Free family support for 12 months following treatment (family support is provided for life following treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton and The Manor Clinic)

As well as offering intensive inpatient addiction treatment, Priory are also able to deliver outpatient or day care treatment for your MDMA/ecstasy misuse, depending on your unique condition, needs and requirements. These treatment approaches can be used as an entry-point to MDMA/ecstasy addiction treatment and therapy, or can be used as a step-down in treatment intensity for individuals who have gone through our comprehensive residential programme, depending on the nature of your addiction and the intensity of the support that you require. For more information on Priory’s exceptional MDMA addiction treatment, as well as the type and format of the addiction therapy that we can offer, please visit our approach to addiction treatment page.

MDMA use causes a wide range of symptoms which can vary depending on your method of ingesting MDMA, the amount of the ecstasy that you are consuming, the frequency of your ecstasy use, as well as being unique to each individual.

More detailed information on the symptoms that are associated with this type of drug addiction can be found on our MDMA/ecstasy addiction symptoms page. However, the following are some of the most common symptoms, which could be a sign that you or someone that you know may be struggling with MDMA misuse:

• Frequent use of MDMA in everyday life, not just when attending a party or club
• Finding that you need to take increasing amounts of the ecstasy, in order to experience the desired effects. This is because you have developed a tolerance to the drug
• Continuing to take MDMA even after suffering negative consequences as a result e.g. financial problems, social isolation, impaired work performance
• Devoting increasing amounts of time to obtaining and using ecstasy
• Spending lots of money on ecstasy, even if you can’t afford this
• Being secretive and defensive about your use of MDMA
• Taking MDMA to try and cope with pre-existing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or stress

Both substance and behavioural addictions develop due to a psychological process known as ‘positive reinforcement’. Positive reinforcement encourages a pattern of behaviour to develop by offering a reward for that behaviour.

In the context of ecstasy, this drug causes individuals to experience ‘positive’ outcomes such as high energy, happiness, intimacy and euphoria, which make it more likely that they will consume more and more ecstasy in order to experience these pleasurable effects over and over again.

This continuous cycle can therefore result in the development of a harmful MDMA addiction as opposed to ‘one-off’ behaviour.

In addition to the role of positive reinforcement, research suggests that there are a number of factors which may increase an individual’s vulnerability to developing a harmful substance addiction, including an addiction to MDMA. These include:

• Genetics – having a close family member such as a parent or sibling who struggles with substance abuse
  
  
• Existing mental health problems – having an untreated, underlying mental health problem such as depression or anxiety
  
  
• Life events – experiencing stressful life events such as losing a job, struggling with financial difficulties, suffering a bereavement, or experiencing a traumatic event

Below are some tips that may help you to manage and cope with the initial stages of MDMA/ecstasy misuse:

• Accept that the process of recovering from your MDMA/ecstasy misuse will be challenging, and prepare yourself to make some significant changes in your life
• Admit that you have a problem with your MDMA/ecstasy use
• Be honest with your loved ones about your problem with MDMA/ecstasy
• Avoid temptations and negative influences wherever possible

Priory’s customer service team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that those in crisis can be signposted to the best possible support, as quickly as possible. The specialist teams at our residential facilities can help to stabilise those in need of immediate assistance, including providing access to medically assisted withdrawal detoxification for alcohol and drug addictions, where required.