Who is Molly and Why is She so Dangerous?

Mary Jane and Lucy are both old news, there’s a new girl in town and her name is Molly. She came in with a force and has been making a name for herself across parties and concerts nationwide.  But who is Molly, and where in the world did she come from? Molly is Ecstasy’s cousin, but she’s more pure and more dangerous.  With a strong backing from some of today’s most popular musicians, Molly was born to be a star. From Miley Cyrus to Kanye West, she’s been talked about in some of the most popular songs of the decade. How could teenagers have been prepared to say no to something that was so talked up by their idols? Before we get too much into the effects that Molly has had on our country, let’s talk about what Molly is. This video was released last year, but obviously the information is still relevant. SEE ALSO: What are the Long Term Effects of Ecstasy? Molly is considered a more pure form of lab made MDMA. MDMA is an empathogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine classes of drugs. It affects the central nervous system and creates euphoric highs. It also can cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, blood vessel constriction, sweating and can prevent the body from regulating temperature. The health risks and negative effects are obvious. One can experience

• anxiety
• extreme thirst
• dizziness
• impulsivity
• aggression
• sleep problems
• poor appetite
• nausea
• chills
• sweating
• blurred vision
• high blood pressure
• heart failure
• kidney failure.

With a rise in use sadly comes a rise in fatalities. Many of this year’s largest and most popular music festivals reported at least 1 death related to MDMA this year. This includes but is not limited to: Coachella, Electric Zoo, Ultra, and Glastonbury. Concert-goers report that this drug is everywhere. Most of the time the drug is used and sold right in public, it's become an accepted part of concerts. You’ll often hear people just offering it up or asking for it by name.” It is fairly cheap, around $20 a dose, and it is widely accepted among many young teens. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's report, almost 20% of high school students have reported trying Molly or MDMA on at least one occasion. One of the reasons we are seeing such an increase in deaths related to Molly is because it is a party drug, and it is rarely taken alone. It is usually mixed with alcohol or cocaine. This will lead to increased level of intoxication and incoherence for those that are using it. The risk of dehydration also increases with alcohol consumption. I Molly that comes off the street usually contains many different types of drugs and chemicals. This is dangerous because the user is usually ingesting drugs that they don't know they are taking. This makes it even more difficult to treat during an overdose. With the rise in popularity of electronic music festivals, there is no reason to think that Molly with decrease in popularity. It is difficult to say at this point what some of the long term effects of the drug will be. For now, we assume that many of the effects with be similar to those of ecstasy, and that quitting molly may also be similar to quitting ecstasy. If you or anyone you know is struggling with molly abuse, please reach out for help. It is entirely possible to enjoy yourself at music festivals and at concerts without using drugs. We are always here to help.