If you haven’t yet met Molly, the latest drug of choice for teens and young adults, you’re in for a parental scare.
Molly, the street name for MDMA and the sister drug of early ‘90s club drug Ecstasy, is pervasive, and she’s showing no sign of leaving town. Purported as being the “pure” form of MDMA, Molly is often anything but.
The drug, found primarily in powder, capsule or crystal form, was highly popular among attendees of summer concerts, specifically electronic dance music (EDM) shows. MDMA acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, inducing feelings of euphoria, diminished anxiety and enhanced feelings of empathy and closeness.
Overdoses of the drug were responsible for two high-profile deaths at New York City’s Electric Zoo Festival, where two attendees, ages 23 and 20, consumed fatal doses purchased on the street. Their deaths were among a string occurring across the country at EDM festivals, and the drug has since expanded its reach to college bars, high school parties, and even, by some accounts, innocuous activities like tailgating. Touted as a “fun” experiential drug, Molly can produce a high-energy sense of joy, emotional warmth and sensory distortion.
Molly isn’t such a good girl after all
Users emphasize Molly’s perceived purity, but researchers suggest this misconception is the most dangerous aspect of the drug’s image. “You don’t know what you’re taking,” says Dr. Charles Grob, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UCLA School of Medicine. “There’s no drug that I’ve ever heard of that has worse reliability.” For adventurous teens, this mystery capsule can be a recipe for disaster.
Molly’s potentially deadly side effects read like a parent’s worst nightmare: confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problems, extreme dehydration and drug craving. Additionally, problems with increased heart rate or blood pressure regulation can cause a sudden hypertensive episode, leading to a stroke or heart attack.
While studies show that use of the drug can increase empathy, facilitating communication and interaction, the fallout of frequent use can lead to serious depression. “Individuals who have underlying vulnerability for serious mental illness can, under the influence of a drug like this, decompensate and go into a manic psychotic episode,” Grob says. After a period of time, he adds, continued use can also cause a significant residual lowering of mood.
Doctors at Lurie Children’s Hospital are baffled by the Molly cases they see in the ER. “Modern medicine doesn’t know how the body can handle these new drugs,” says Dr. Craig Smith, who notes he’s seen teenagers come in unconscious after suffering seizures related to Molly. He emphasizes that there is a very narrow window to treat the dangerous effects of such drugs.
Miley and Molly
Miley Cyrus has extolled its virtues in song, as have pop stars like Madonna, Rihanna and Kanye West. The drug’s ubiquity in popular culture has only increased its reputation as a fun club drug, causing teens to emulate the behaviors practiced by those in the spotlight.
Tips for parents
Grob, who specializes in youth substance abuse, encourages parents to open up a dialogue early on about such drugs. “Parents need to be aware of what the latest trends among kids are,” Grob says. “They need to have a supportive relationship with their kids. Good communication is vital.”
“Any drug like this has very potent effects on the brain,” adds Dr. Harriet de Wit, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago.
“Adolescents are going through profound development, which includes their central nervous system and brain,” Grob adds. “It’s not the time in life to be experimenting with these potent drugs.”
Here are a few things parents should be aware of:
- Molly is readily available online and surprisingly easy to find.
- Single doses are relatively inexpensive, running from $20 to $50.
- It’s likely your child has a schoolmate who has already tried Molly. According to a 2012 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 12 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds in the U.S. have tried it.
- Since 2009, MDMA has been linked to 10 deaths in the Chicago area, and MDMA-related emergency room visits here rose to more than 1,000 in 2011.
Ultimately, Grob stresses, experimenting with Molly is a dangerous exercise. “Who knows what’s in there?” he poses. “It’s a bit like playing Russian roulette—you just don’t know what’s in there until you swallow the wrong thing.”
