The street drug known as Molly may cause deaths in teens, college students, and other users who do not know how dangerous is it. If you believe that your teen is using ecstasy or Molly, read on to learn more about signs and what to do about it.
There is some confusion over what Molly is, and whether it’s the same thing as Ecstasy or MDMA. We will clear up some of the misconceptions about Molly and talk about its characteristics and dangers.
What is Molly?
Molly is the slang name for the drug also known as Ecstasy or simple “E.” The chemical name for Ecstasy is MDMA, or methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. This drug has the unusual characteristic of being both a hallucinogen and a stimulant. It creates feelings of euphoria and causes a removal of inhibitions. Ecstasy or MDMA “trips” can last for many hours. Molly or ecstasy can cause serious medical issues or injuries.
There is some confusion over the terms “Molly,” “Ecstasy” and MDMA. Molly usually refers to pure MDMA, with nothing else added. However, since these are all illegal drugs, the person buying it never knows exactly what he or she is getting. This is one of the reasons using this drug can be deadly, as what is sold as Ecstasy may also contain other drugs such as cocaine or heroine – sometimes in doses that are unsafe.
Ecstasy has been around for several decades now, and has long been a popular party drug. It is especially widespread at parties, concerts and raves -events where trance or techno style music is played. Many raves are illegal and attended by teens and young adults at locations only disclosed at the last minute. The dangers of ecstasy are many and it can look different for people taking the same dosage and type.
How to Tell if Kids are Using Ecstasy
There are certain signs that may show that a teen is using Ecstasy. These may include:
- Trouble concentrating or short term memory loss.
- Mood swings, depression or anxiety.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Spends time in environments where drug use is common.
None of these signs will always indicate Ecstasy use. These symptoms can overlap with the effects of other drugs or other problems that don’t involve drug use.
Effects and Dangers of MDMA
MDMA increases the heart rate and blood pressure. This can be dangerous for anyone with a pre-existing heart condition. Another side effect of the drug is that it can produce dehydration if the user isn’t careful to drink fluids during the course of the trip. Some fatal MDMA overdoses have occurred when the victim suffered from overheating related to dehydration.
Some less extreme side effects of Ecstasy or MDMA include sweating, nausea, chills, muscle pain and blurred vision. In most cases, these are temporary.
Since Ecstasy or MDMA is such a powerful stimulant, it can produce a powerful letdown when the effects of the drug wear off.
This can be dangerous in people who are already suffering from depression or other mood disorders. It can also cause the user to want to continue taking the drug to recapture the high. This can lead to a vicious cycle in which a user may harm themselves or seek out their next fix.
Although the long term effects of prolonged MDMA use are still being studied, research indicates that this drug can cause memory loss and other types of brain damage. It can also harm the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, which in turn can cause heart, liver, or kidney problems.
Misconceptions About MDMA
One of the biggest myths about MDMA is that it’s safe. Many medical problems and deaths have been associated with this drug in recent years. As we have seen, one of the problems is that users can never be sure what the drug contains. This makes the risk of overdosing or using a toxic substance a real danger.
Another danger is that young people experimenting with drugs often take more than one drug at the same time. Events where people are using Ecstasy are also likely to include the use of other drugs, such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine or even alcohol. Some users end up taking a random cocktail mix of substances, and this can lead to unpredictable reactions and sometimes overdoses.
Preventing Abuse of Molly and MDMA
There is no simple solution to the problem of MDMA abuse. It has been popular for some time, and many young people are anxious to experiment with it. There are, however, quite a few dangers with this drug. Some of the long term effects are still not known. The best thing parents can do is to educate their kids about the dangers of these drugs and to keep the channels of communication open as much as possible.
