Would you take a pill when you have no idea what the active ingredient is or what effect it will have on your body?
Would you be a guinea pig for drug traffickers?
Some of our kids are doing just that.
They are taking significant risks by experimenting with Molly, and it is a growing concern for parents and drug officials.
From the Daily News at The Partnership to End Addiction, “Emergency room visits related to Molly, or Ecstasy, rose 128 percent among people younger than 21 between 2005 and 2011, according to a new government report.”
It was believed that Molly was “pure” MDMA, the active ingredient in Ecstasy. Still, the drug has now become a toxic mixture of lab-created chemicals, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
What is Molly?
Ecstasy and Molly, which is slang for “molecular,” is the pure powder or crystal form of MDMD. It is called the “club drug.”
MDMA is a man-made product. Other chemicals are now being added or used as a substitute in Molly tablets.
According to a recent CNN article, “Someone who buys or takes Molly now is probably ingesting dangerous synthetic drugs that have not been tested and are produced in widely varying strengths. The DEA says only 13% of the Molly seized in New York state the last four years actually contained any MDMA, and even then, it often was mixed with other drugs. The drugs often found in Molly are Methylone, MDPV, 4-MEC, 4-MMC, Pentedrone, and MePP.”
Molly is taken orally, usually as a capsule or tablet, and a “hit” of MDMA lasts for three to six hours. Some take a second dose as the effects begin to fade, which is called “bumping.”
It takes about 15 minutes for MDMA to enter the bloodstream once the pill is swallowed. About 45 minutes later, the user will experience the MDMA “high.”
The street names for MDMA are:
- “Ecstasy”
- “Molly”
- “E”
- “XTC”
- “X”
- “Adam”
- “hug”
- “beans”
- “clarity”
- “lover’s speed.”
- “love drug.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers MDMA to be a Schedule I controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted use in medical treatment. The DEA notes that MDMA can cause confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problems, and drug craving. The drug also can cause muscle tension, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramps, nausea, faintness, chills, sweating, and blurred vision.
The DEA goes on to say that “High doses of MDMA can interfere with the ability to regulate body temperature, resulting in a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), leading to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure. Severe dehydration can result from the combination of the drug’s effects and the crowded and hot conditions in which the drug is often taken.”
Who is Using Molly?
Molly users are generally 16 to 24 years old but are sometimes as young as 12, and the drug has been popular with adolescents and young adults in the nightclub scene or at “raves.”
According to NIDA, in 2013, the number of 12th-graders that used Molly during their lifetime is 7.10%, during the past year is 4.00% and during the past month is 1.50%.
Why Should You Be Concerned?
MDMA is a drug that can cause dehydration through vigorous activity in a warm environment. It may not seem like a concern, but when the body is unable to regulate its temperature, it can cause overheating or hyperthermia. MDMA can lead to severe heart and kidney problems or even death.
MDMA is extremely dangerous in high doses or when multiple small doses are taken within a short period to continue the high. High levels can affect the bloodstream and can increase the risk of seizure and affect the heart’s ability to keep up normal rhythms.
Heavy MDMA users experience long-lasting confusion, depression, sleep abnormalities, and problems with attention and memory. These problems may also be caused by the combination of using other drugs as well.
According to the DEA, “dealers…adulterate the stuff.” And even reliable dealers don’t always know what went into their batch. One former dealer who operated mainly in the Pacific Northwest and who made around $700 a week said, “I never cut my stuff. Did other people cut that Molly before me? Yes, absolutely. I never actually did any of the tests, I just knew. I know that I was not going directly through the cook, and every set of hands it passes, you can assume it’s getting cut.”
What Can You Do About It?
Be informed. If you suspect your child is using Molly, John Corbott, clinical coordinator at Mary Haven Center of Hope, said there are five signs to look for:
- Jaw clenching
- Sudden loss of appetite
- High and low temperatures
- Signs of depression such as sadness
- Not being able to get out of bed for an extended period of time
Bring teens exhibiting signs of any severe drug use to your local emergency room.
To prevent your child from experimenting with drugs and alcohol:
Talk to your teen regularly about drug and alcohol abuse. Get educated on teen drug use in your area. Learn all you can about teen substance abuse. Explain the effects of drugs on the body and how it can damage a still-developing brain.
Stay involved with your teen. Answer your child’s questions and communicate positively. The better you know your child, the easier it will be to guide your child in a positive direction. Spend time doing activities that you both enjoy. Let them know you are there to help. You are still the most important influence in your teen’s life.
Create clear rules and be consistent. Discuss rules, expectations, and consequences in advance. Teach your children to take responsibility for their actions. Plan and do your best to stay calm if you suspect drug use.
What else can we do to help prevent our children from using Molly? Let us know in the comments.
If you like this post, please share it on social media. Thank you!
Resources: NIDA, Partnership at Drugfree.org, SAMHSA
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Very helpful information and the dangers of the drug, Molly. Looks like the physical and psychological effects of this drug, along with the dangers of it being adulterated, make this a particularly dangerous drug.
Thanks for sharing tips here on not only how to identify if someone is on this drug, Cathy, but some practical tips to talk with teenagers on how to prevent them from getting addicted to this drug in the first place.
Hi Vishnu,
Molly is dangerous, and many young people take the drug thinking that they are taking straight MDMA, when in fact it has been cut with other unknown drugs, which are harmful. It is definitely important to make parents and teens aware of the risks. Thank you for stopping by!
Wow, thanks for this informative post Cathy. Knowing some of the tell tale signs will be so helpful to parents of young teens. What a difficult and challenging world we’re operating in, thank goodness for you disseminating information to guide and support.
You are welcome Elle! The post is aimed at parents of teens, but I always feel the more any of us know about the drug trends, the better. I appreciate you stopping by!
I had no idea about really any of this. Thanks for continuing to be a leader in informing us of the important things that we need to be aware of, especially for those of us who have children. I really appreciate it!
Unless you are in the thick of it, it is hard to know what drugs kids are trying these days. Glad you found the post informative. Thanks for your comment!
Not just Children Cathy, My current back challenges come from large doses of steroids that if i had been better informed earlier I would have asked better questions.
This is wonderful that more people need to read
Hi Suzie,
That is a good point. It is important to ask lots of questions if you have any concerns about the prescriptions that you are receiving from the doctor. Thanks for adding that point. I appreciate your input!
Thanks Cathy, this is great information and I plan on posting and tweeting. Sad to see that there is so much of this out there for our young kids to get involved with. Info like this will help us all be more aware! Thanks again.
Hi Leslie,
So true that there are definitely too many drug to entice our kids and detour their life. Thanks for sharing and stopping by!
This is an important heads-up, Cathy. Thank you. What a mix of thoughts/emotions on this side of the fence – deep sorrow, anger, frustration, confusion. In addition to your Molly story I heard on the radio earlier today a heroin/Fentanyl combo is killing folks. Dang, these times! Information and dissemination of that information, is the best first step. Thank you for getting the ball rolling. But, yeah, mostly sad. Hmmm…
Bill
Hi Bill,
You words are so true. It is sad! It is sad for the kids that they are exposed to drugs like Molly and for families who are watching their children self destruct. I’m all for promoting drug prevention. Take care and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great advice! Even when you feel fairly certain your own kids are not doing any kinds of drugs, it is good to keep a lookout. As a parent of 4 I try to keep my eyes wide opened. I know that it’s hard to think that our own precious children would mess with any of these things but then there is reality…. It happens.
Thanks for the reminder. I used your advice and chatted with my kids tonight. It’s always good to keep an open communication.
Hi Melissa,
That is amazing that you are a mother of four, how fun! So many of these drugs slip under the radar, so open positive communication about the dangers of drug us is always a good thing! There is so much pressure for our kids these days, it is important that parents be aware of what is out there. So glad you are having that conversation, as prevention is the key! Take care and I appreciate you stopping by!
Hey Cathy,
Oh what different times these are! Not being a parent, I can’t fathom the depth of despair many live every day wondering when the call will come about their child. As a person in recovery, I feel a selfish sense of relief that I wasn’t confronted with the pharmed drugs of today. I don’t know if I could have said no.
Such an intense story . . . thanks for bringing it to light.
Hey Beth,
It is a challenge for any parent to maneuver their child through middle and high school with all the pressures to drink and use drugs. As you know, the prescription drugs have really taken a toll on so many young people. Molly seems to be aimed at the younger kids and can really start them down a dark path. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
This is such critically important information, Cathy. Thank you so very much for taking the time to pull it all together and sharing this. I’ll definitely do the same through my social networks. Really appreciate ALL the work you do to keep us informed.
Thank you Lisa and I appreciate you sharing as well as stopping by! Take care.
Cathy,
Your article really hits home, because I got caught up in drugs and Ecstasy in my teen years. It’s a literal miracle that got me out. So often, parents are just as in the dark as their children— like the proverbial ostrich… we need to awaken and help our kids.
Thanks for the insightful post,
Robb
Welcome! Great point Robb. Parents can sometimes look the other way, because they just don’t want to see the drug use, because then they have to deal with it and they don’t know how. I’m so glad that you were able to recover. It is a big problem for teens these days and something that we all need to be concerned about. Thank you for stopping by!
Parents, teens, and young adults who have become addicted to drugs (with their 20-20 vision) recommend drug screening as a preventative measure. I am perplexed why the general public seems to be afraid of screening to prevent the lifelong chronic brain disease of addiction that destroys relationships and lives.
It goes without saying that having a good relationship with your child is important. But, until their executive brain functions are fully formed in their mid 20s, children are at substantial risk of addiction. Since there is no a vaccine for addiction, screening is a prevention tool that no parent should fear.
Given that 1/3 of teens and adults are using drugs and alcohol on a regular basis, it’s imperative that parents use every tool in the proverbial toolbox to protect their children’s brains from exposure.