Even fairly innocuous powders that are added to illegal drugs, though, can have adverse effects with some routes of illegal drug administration, such as injection. With some drugs, adulterants are sometimes added to make the product more appealing. The active effects of MDMA usually last between three to five hours, with a peak after approximately one to 1.5 hours.
MDMA, also known as ecstasy or “molly,” is a synthetic drug known primarily for its hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. It is a derivative of amphetamine and has a similar structure to methamphetamine (“meth”). Research suggests MDMA is potentially addictive, although more research is needed. MDMA first became popular in nightclubs, but people now take it in a wide range of settings.
Combinations with the following substances can lead to dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated. MDMA, or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, is a synthetic molecule of the substituted amphetamine class. Molecules of the amphetamine class all contain a phenethylamine core comprised of a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain, with an additional methyl substitution at Rα. In addition to this, MDMA contains a methyl substitution on RN, a feature it shares with methamphetamine.
Molly Side Effects
Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠. Users may take several tablets at once or in succession over a period of time. As with many other “party drugs”, ecstasy is rarely used alone and it is frequently combined with alcohol and marijuana. Another significant danger is the fact that people taking ecstasy don’t know what they are actually ingesting. In one study, researchers found that only 60% of samples contained any MDMA at all and many were mixed with so-called “fake cocaine,” a substance typically made with synthetic cathinone. In nearly 25% of the samples, the researchers were unable to identify what was actually in the tablets.
- However, this elicits unsafe sexual behavior and escalates the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
- No, Molly is not classified as a classic psychedelic but does have mild hallucinogenic properties owing to its effects on serotonin.
- Water intoxication symptoms typically show up when a person consumes more than about 3-4 liters of water within an hour.6263 Also, an important cause of death following MDMA use is hyponatremia, low blood sodium levels as a result of drinking too much water.
- As with other stimulants, the chronic use of MDMA can be considered moderately addictive with a high potential for abuse and is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.
“Molly” and “ecstasy” may be slang terms for MDMA, but when exchanged illicitly, they may not actually contain any MDMA at all. In fact, a 2017 study tested 529 samples of what was believed to be MDMA and discovered that only 60 percent of the tested pills contain any MDMA at all. The study was conducted via a partnership between John Hopkins University and DanceSafe, a nonprofit that works to improve public safety and drug education among nightlife communities.
How to Get Help for MDA Use
In 2023, an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States reported using ecstasy, also known as MDMA or Molly, within the past year (Statista). The effects of Molly are euphoria, heightened sensory perception, increased energy, emotional closeness, and reduced anxiety. Short-term effects include elevated heart rate, dehydration, jaw clenching, nausea, and excessive sweating, while high doses lead to hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, or organ failure. Long-term use results in serotonin depletion, memory impairment, depression, anxiety, and an inflated hazard of addiction due to neurochemical imbalances in the brain. Some substances used to “cut” illegal drugs are not inherently harmful, as they are just used to “pad” or “bulk out” a quantity of the illegal drug and increase profits, such as lactose (milk sugar), a white powder often added to heroin.
Ongoing clinical trials also suggest that ecstasy may help treat chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results of a Phase 3 trial found that 88% of participants who received MDMA-assisted therapy experienced a meaningful reduction in PTSD symptoms, with 67% no longer qualifying for a PTSD diagnosis after treatment. In the world of psychedelics, it’s raves, arrests, and adulterated substances with unpredictable risks that often make prime-time news.
Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs
MDMA is typically produced and consumed in its racemic form (known as SR-MDMA) which consists of equal parts S-MDMA and R-MDMA. A 2017 study found that high doses of R-MDMA administered in mice increased prosocial behavior and facilitated fear-extinction learning but did not produce hyperthermia or signs of neurotoxicity. This is thought to owe itself to the lower dopamine release R-MDMA displays relative to SR-MDMA. This result suggests that R-MDMA may be a safer and more viable therapeutic than racemic MDMA.55 However, more research is needed to validate this finding. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (also known as ecstasy, E, XTC, emma, molly, mandy, pingers, and MDMA) is a classical entactogen substance of the amphetamine class.
MDMA was explored as a therapeutic drug in the 1970s as some psychotherapists believed it opened people up and enhanced their potential for empathy and understanding of one another. This use was interrupted by ecstasy being classified as a Schedule I drug in 1985. This article is purely informational and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider if you think that using ecstasy or “molly” is right for you. Conversations around consent are important in recreational and festival settings. But, these settings are not the only places where having clear conversations about consent is essential.
66% of those deaths were connected to fentanyl, and between 2019 and 2021, overdose deaths increased by 50%. Treatment for ecstasy addiction typically involves a comprehensive approach that addresses both the psychological and physical aspects of dependence. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and group therapy are often employed to help individuals understand the underlying causes of their addiction, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and prevent relapse. Medications may also be used to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, although no specific pharmacological treatment has been approved for ecstasy addiction. MDMA is an illegal substance that’s used recreationally to elicit euphoria, energy, and connectedness in its user.
Ecstasy
In 2010, British researchers ranked various licit and illicit substances by their potential to cause harm, either to the user or to the community. Ecstasy was ranked one of the least harmful drugs, along with mushrooms, buprenorphine, and LSD, findings which are corroborated by additional research. The 2010 study suggests that drug-specific impairment of mental functioning was the biggest risk with MDMA, followed by potential dependence and drug-related impairment of mental functioning. Current evidence suggests that ecstasy may increase the likelihood of developing serotonin syndrome, which can occur with spikes of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Excess serotonin can cause tremors, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, muscle tension, agitation, irregular heartbeat, and shivering. In severe circumstances, serotonin syndrome can cause a loss of consciousness and seizure.Molly may contribute to potentially dangerous side effects when mixed with contraindicating medications.
Serotonin syndrome risk
MDMA can cause the user to experience distortions in time, see molly drug wiki things in brighter colors, and hear music and voices differently. First, Molly is a synthetic drug which means it’s made in a lab using man-made ingredients and not natural ingredients. The molecular structure of Molly and Ecstasy are the same, meaning they are essentially the same substance. Then in the 1970s, some psychiatrists used the inhibition-lowering aspects of the drug to get patients to “open up” more during therapy sessions.
Quaaludes were described as the “…other quintessential 1970s club drug”, which suspends motor coordination.”39) According to Peter Braunstein, “massive quantities of drugs were ingested in discothèques.” Although the previously mentioned drugs are generally categorized as club drugs by the media and the United States government, this distinction probably does not have an accurate correlation to real usage patterns. For example, alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, hard liquor) are generally not included under the category of club drugs, even though they are probably used more than any other drug at clubs, particularly those that are liquor-licensed nightclubs or bars. Methylone — a compound commonly found in another street drug, “bath salts” — has properties and side effects similar to MDMA and, according to law enforcement officials, is often sold under the name Molly.
Inpatient programs with medical supervision aid detox and recovery, though no specific medications target MDMA addiction. Moreover, interest in using psychedelic drugs like MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin for mental health treatment has grown in recent years. This approach, known as psychedelic therapy, is being explored through clinical trials to assess MDMA’s potential in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder. Between 2000 and 2022, 13 phase-two clinical trials worldwide investigated MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. In many cases, illegal club drugs are misrepresented.24 That is, a dealer will tell a purchaser that she/he has a certain illegal drug for sale, while in fact the dealer’s pills, capsules or bags of powder do not contain that chemical. For example, MDMA (“ecstasy”) is very hard to synthesize in illegal underground labs, and methamphetamine is much easier (it can be made from household chemicals and over-the-counter cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine).
Can I get addicted to MDMA?
Although each club drug has different effects, their use in clubs reflects their perceived contribution to the user’s experience dancing to a beat as lights flash to the music. Club drug users are generally taking the drugs to “enhance social intimacy and sensory stimulation” from the dance club experience.24 Some club drugs’ popularity stems from their ability to induce euphoria, lowered inhibition and an intoxicated feeling. Some drugs, such as amphetamine and cocaine, give the dancer hyperactivity and energy to dance all night. Many drugs produce a feeling of heightened physical sensation, and increased libido and sexual pleasure. Some club drugs, such as LSD, DMT, MDMA, 2C-B and ketamine enhance the experience of being in a nightclub with pulsating lights and flashing lasers and throbbing dance music, because they cause hallucinations or unusual perception effects. Molly’s impact on neurotransmitters and body temperature regulation brings about life-threatening conditions, impaired judgment, and long-term psychological damage.
Like amphetamine, methamphetamine, or cocaine, Molly provides the user with immense energy, emotional warmth, and inflated confidence in users. Molly gives a sense of emotional bonding and intimacy as inhibitions are lowered. To maximize profit on the streets, these tablets are often mixed with numerous other chemicals ranging from caffeine to methamphetamine.
Inconsistency in the strength and exact composition of the supplied drug causing users to overdose. Wide variance in the measured rate of deaths caused by drugs such as ecstasy across countries suggest that user and societal/environmental factors may also affect the lethality of club drugs. Yes, you can overdose on Molly, instigating severe and potentially fatal consequences. Symptoms of an MDMA overdose are dangerously high body temperature (hyperthermia), seizures, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, dehydration, and organ failure. In extreme cases, excessive serotonin release produces serotonin syndrome, hence confusion, agitation, muscle rigidity, and even coma. Overdose risks increase when Molly is taken in high doses, combined with other substances, or used in hot environments like clubs or festivals, which generate dehydration and hyperthermia.