Can MDMA Addiction Be Treated?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “MDMA [also called ecstasy and molly] affects many of the same neurotransmitter systems in the brain that are targeted by other addictive drugs.” Because this strongly suggests the possibility of MDMA addiction in those who abuse the drug on a regular basis, there are some treatment methods already in place to help those who do become addicted to this drug.

Approved MDMA Treatments

Unfortunately, unlike heroin, crack, and many other drugs of abuse, there is no specific treatment program approved for MDMA. Ecstasy can be a dangerous drug in terms of sudden death by dehydration, severe depressive symptoms that appear during withdrawal, and drug-seeking behavior, but because it is fairly new, it does not have the considerable amount of research other drugs of abuse have. Therefore, there is no specific treatment program available for those who are addicted to it. However, certain methods have been found to be effective across the board when it comes to substance use disorders.

Behavioral Therapy for MDMA Addiction Treatment

Behavioral therapy provides you with skills to cope with MDMA cravings.

As stated by the NIDA, “The most effective treatments for drug abuse and addiction are cognitive interventions that are designed to help modify the patient’s thinking, expectancies, and behaviors, and to increase skills in coping with life stressors.” This is effective for almost any type of addiction syndrome, and many people who are struggling with an addiction to this drug can find help with it.

One of the most commonly used behavioral therapies for drug addiction treatment in general is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Specific techniques of the program include “exploring the positive and negative consequences of continued drug use, self-monitoring to recognize cravings early and identify situations that might put one at risk for use, and developing strategies for coping with cravings and avoiding those high-risk situations” (NIDA). This treatment helps patients see their addictions in a different light and change their behavior for the better by learning better coping strategies and creating scenarios where these strategies can be put into practice. For an MDMA addict, this treatment approach would likely be very beneficial.

Medications for MDMA Addiction Treatment

There are no medications currently approved to treat MDMA addiction. However, an individual might receive antidepressants if the symptoms of their withdrawal are creating strong depressive side effects. This would not be an official treatment for the addiction itself, but it could help the individual cope more easily with the symptoms of withdrawal and create a stronger recovery with a lower risk of relapse.