Last updated: September 25, 2023
Have you seen Molly, you know, in Atlanta?
There has been a surge in the use of the drug informally called Molly, especially among young adults. It’s popular as a club drug, as Molly (MDMA) is the main ingredient in the drug called Ecstasy. Molly is a nickname of a nickname, short for “molecular” because Molly is pure MDMA, uncut by caffeine or methamphetamines.
The popularity of Molly has been enhanced by the idea that it is a safe recreational drug. The problem with this idea is that other drugs are often casually referred to by the same name, although they may contain very different—and even more dangerous—substances.
Originally part of the party and club culture, Molly has recently expanded into recreational use in the Atlanta area. The way it works is to rapidly deplete the brain of serotonin and flood the body with this naturally occurring mood elevating substance. It’s becoming more available than it used to be and, whether because of celebrities, ease of access, or experiences with similar drugs, people are lulled into the belief that it’s a safe and fun party drug. However, regular users can develop sensitivity to this synthetic drug, leading to a stronger effect from the same dosage.
Molly, like other drugs, has serious risks beyond simply using it.
• Molly is often laced with other drugs.
• Taking Molly while drinking alcohol can lead to dangerous side effects.
• Molly elevates body temperature.
• People with some pre-existing conditions are especially at risk from taking Molly.
• Molly depletes serotonin in the brain.
• Negative mood changes can last for weeks after taking Molly.
The drug Methylone, commonly known as “bath salts,” is often cheaper than Molly and is sometimes used to cut the MDMA to increase profits. Since Molly is often taken at a party or concert, adding alcoholic beverages creates a dangerous mixture of substances in the body. Also, alcoholic drinks and Molly both remove inhibitions, leading to the possibility of dangerous behavior.
Molly can cause the body to retain water and it also creates a slightly elevated body temperature. For this reason, sports drinks are a better choice than water if a person is trying to get over the effects of taking Molly. People with conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease are especially at risk.
As a matter of fact, some people believe that the press has erroneously called MDMA related deaths “overdoses.” There is no reliably safe amount of Molly that can be ingested, especially since some people become sensitive to the drug and experience the same effects at lower doses.
Feelings of euphoria, energy and empathy for others are reported effects of using MDMA. However, because Molly rapidly depletes the brain’s serotonin, negative reactions after taking it may include confusion, depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
In June of this year, a 24 year old man died after taking Ecstasy at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. This highlights the fact that MDMA combined with other substances can be lethal. For example, Methylone is a potent stimulant that can induce hallucinations. It has also been linked to heart attacks in healthy young adults.
Molly has become the drug of choice at electronic dance music festivals, which are often held outdoors. Because MDMA raises the body’s temperature, heat stroke becomes a greater danger at summer events. Combine Molly with extreme heat and alcohol intake and it could be a recipe for disaster. There’s plenty of heat during the summer in Atlanta to make using these types of drugs a fatal decision for partygoers.
Molly is popular with college students and young adults because they see it as a low risk drug. However, it has been classified as a Schedule I drug by the drug enforcement administration. This means that it has no medicinal application and has a high potential for abuse. Despite the ‘cute’ name, Molly really should be taken seriously and it would be better to refuse to interact with her if you see her in the Atlanta area.
