“I don’t pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford” is what Jay-Z raps about in one of his latest singles. Jay-Z references that his drug of choice is fashion designer pieces and not Molly. Several music artists are making references to Molly in their music. Yet, many people may not know what Molly is but they might be familiar with the dangerous side effects of the addictive drug known as Ecstasy.
What is Molly?
Essentially, an old drug from the late ‘90s and early 2000s- Ecstasy, is making a comeback as Molly. The drug known as “Molly” contains one of the main ingredients that ecstasy has- called MDMA. Molly is becoming a popular drug because many users believe the drug contains pure MDMA- a medication that was originally developed to treat depression.
Yet, the reality is that today’s Molly generally does not have MDMA. In fact, it’s become a toxic concoction of lab-created chemicals according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to Dr. M. Michael Jones, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at CentraState Medical Centre, today’s Molly can contain ingredients such as caffeine, cocaine, paint thinner and gasoline. The DEA state only 13% of Molly that was seized in New York in the last four years contained MDMA.
Why is Molly dangerous?
Molly is not a pure drug in any sense. It contains man-made chemicals that mimic the effects of MDMA by affecting the central nervous system which causes euphoric highs. The effects of Molly may last for 3 to 6 hours and only takes about 15 minutes to enter the bloodstream and reach the brain. MDMA can make individuals feel happy, loose, and open to anything, which is the reason why teens have become so attracted to this drug. It’s allowing teens and other users to become more sociable.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the U.S. have discovered that an increase in emergency room visits related to Molly for individuals under the age of 21 increased by 128% between 2005 and 2011. Of those emergency room admissions, 33% of these individuals had alcohol in their systems.
Other side-effects of the drug Molly:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dehydration
- High blood pressure
- Blood vessel constriction
- Sweating or chills
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Muscle tension
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Prolonged panic attacks
- Psychosis
- Seizures
On rare occasions, the effects of Molly can lead to hypothermia causing the failure of the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system. Once the chemicals wear off, a person can experience severe depression, anxiety and memory difficulties that can last for many days – which have led to deaths.
Who is using the drug Molly?
According to RCMP, Its primary dealers and consumers are suburban middle to upper-income teenagers and college students. The DEA state this drug is being promoted to young, first-time drug abusers between the ages of 12-17, rave, electronic dance music fans who think they are taking MDMA.
What does Molly look like?
Molly can be taken as a capsule that comes in various colours with sometimes cartoon-like images on them, powder, blotting paper or as an injectable form too.
Is Molly becoming a prevalent drug abuse problem?
Absolutely.
Molly has become a drug that has been found in almost every state in the U.S. It’s a multi-billion dollar business. In addition to the U.S., Molly is a growing drug problem in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
There is evidence that this drug has become a major drug abuse problem for the U.S.. Investigations by the RCMP and the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the U.S. are revealing that Canada may be one of the main suppliers of MDMA. In January 2012’s, President Barack Obama’s Drug Czar reveals that pills similar to MDMA, that look like candy or children’s vitamins that were apprehended near U.S. schools, were linked back to Canadian sources. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy report states that “Marijuana and ecstasy remain the most significant Canadian drug threats to the United States.”
In March 2012, drugs that contain MDMA were elevated as a Schedule I drug under Bill C-10. Meaning that in Canada, drugs such as Molly are now classified along with heroin and cocaine and are more severely punished than possession of other drugs listed in other schedules. Between July 2011 and March 2012, there were 19 MDMA-related deaths in BC and 12 in Alberta, as per RCMP’s Just the Facts. BC is being identified as North America’s main producer for ecstasy by the United Nations, the White House, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the RCMP.
How do I know if someone is currently under the influence of the drug Molly?
Some noticeable behaviours or side-effects of someone under the influence of Molly are the following:
- Sweating
- Jaw Clenching
- Violent or bizarre behaviour
- Psychosis
How do I help someone who is under the influence of MDMA?
If you concerned about a person’s well-being who is under the influence of MDMA, take them to your nearest hospital. It’s important that the person receives the medical care that is needed from this deadly drug.
If you know someone who takes MDMA and are concerned about her or his regular use, contact Bellwood Health Services to speak to an intake or assessment counsellor. Bellwood counsellors can provide you the knowledge and tools you may need to help this individual.
References:
https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/22/health/9-things-molly-drug/
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/mdma-ecstasy-or-molly
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/02/ecstasy-molly-teens/4292825/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/molly-drug-teens_n_4109512.html
https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/health/electric-zoo-molly-mdma/
https://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/molly-latest-it-drug/51c602eb02a760296000076f
