MOLLY

By Tala Hammond

WHAT IS MOLLY?
Molly is a synthetic psychoactive drug with hallucinogens similar to that
of amphetamine and mescaline
New name for ecstasy or MDMA
A hardcore party drug that can be very dangerous

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Like most drugs, molly sends a rush of euphoria
Gives you lots of energy
Blocks your sweating glands
Makes you feel connected to those around you
Can cause sleeping problems

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

DANGERS?
Your body will become exhausted to the point of collapsing without you
even realizing what is happening
Terrible overheating, your body cannot regulate its temperature
Overdose or death
Not being able to interpret others attitudes and intentions towards you

THERAPEUTIC VALUE
Initially used as in aid in psychotherapy
Currently in clinical trials
Possibly treats PSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and anxiety in
terminal cancer patients
Not popular medically due to its high abuse potential

HOW IT AFFECTS THE BRAIN

Increases the activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
Emotional and pro-social effects are caused by the serotonin increases
such as love, trust, and sexual arousal
The surge of serotonin depletes the brain of an important chemical
causing negative after effects
Confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and anxiety

ON THE DRUG

BEFORE AND AFTER

STREET NAMES
Molly
X or E
Love drug
E-bomb
Scooby snacks
Malcom X
Skittles
Dancing shoes
Thizz

SLANG TERMS FOR USE AND

ABUSE
Drop, double drop
Thizzing
Flip or Flipping
E-tard
Roll or rolling
Raver, raving
Cuddle puddle or E-puddle
Bumping (if more than one)

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
Loss of appetite
Depression
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Agitation

TREATMENT
No real treatment
Cognitive behavioral interventions
Therapy
Rehab facilities

POPULARITY
Growing in popularity
Most common among youth
Popular at raves and party scenes
Is fairly new so more people are experimenting with it

MEDIA
TV shows, music and famous figures glamorize the use of this drug
Celebrities are raising the popularity of molly as well by promoting the
drug indirectly
An example being Madonna asked who was on molly at one of her concert
and cheered for them
Another example is Miley Cyrus song We cant Stop

ACUTE EFFECTS
Dehydration
Nausea and possible vomiting
Insomnia
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Increased heart rate and blood pressure

ACUTE EFFECTS CONTINUED

Faintness
Chills or sweating
Muscle tension
Higher risk for unsafe sex
Serious heart, liver, or kidney problems

CHRONIC EFFECTS
Addiction
Dependence
Brain and memory damage
Kidney failure
Psychosis

THE HIGH
Lasts 3-5 hours depending on dosage and person
Dilated pupils
The euphoria without as much energy as meth and such
Extremely confident
Fairly smooth and relaxed high

DOSAGE
Threshold 30 mg
Light 40 - 75 mg
Common (small or sensitive people) 60 - 90 mg
Common (most people) 75 - 125 mg
Common (large or less sensitive people) 110 - 150 mg
Strong 150 - 200 mg
Heavy 200 + mg

COST
Depends on the type of molly you choose
Also depends on quality and purity
About $100-150 a gram
About $15 a capsule

CAPSULE FORM

PILLS FORM

IS IT ADDICTIVE?
Its addictive properties are unknown but are being looked into
What is known is that molly targets the same neurotransmitters as many addictive
drugs
Dependence- continued use despite knowing its harm
Withdrawal- discontinued use causes fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, and
trouble concentrating
Tolerance- needing more of the drug to receive the same high

HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED

The formula for the drug was discovered by legitimate scientist working
on a new medication
The formulas couldnt be used as medicine because of the stimulant or
hallucinogenic effects
The recipe for the drug still remain however

WHERE DO THE CHEMICALS

COME FROM?
All the chemicals in molly and other synthetic drugs come from
laboratories in China
Chinese chemists sell the drugs online
Middlemen in the United States and around the world cut it with other
substances, and either place it in capsules or sell it as a powder

HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE

PROBLEM?
Huge
The fastest emerging drug problem in the United States is the synthetic
drug market, which now includes molly
Molly is available in every state in the country
It is only spreading

WHATS BEING DONE ABOUT IT

Congress passed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act in July 2012
It controlled 26 compounds by name but there are hundreds of
compounds
Another reason it isnt declining as fast is because whenever they make
one illegal, chemists alter the formula enough so that it cant be
controlled
U.S. officials say they are discussing the issue with the Chinese
government but most of these chemicals are legal in China