What is Molly Addiction

What is Molly Addiction?

Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception (awareness of surrounding objects and conditions).  It is chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens, producing feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception.  It was initially popular in the nightclub scene and at all-night dance parties (“raves”). Because the drug now affects a broader range of people, commonly called Ecstasy or Molly.  Its chemical structure is similar to amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and a hallucinogen called mescaline.  Mescaline is the active ingredient in the drug peyote.

 How Do People Use MDMA?

People who use MDMA usually take it as a capsule or tablet, though some swallow it liquid or snort the powder.  The popular nickname Molly (slang for “molecular”) often refers to the supposedly “pure” crystalline powder form of MDMA, usually sold in capsules.  However, people who purchase powder or capsules sold as Molly often actually get other drugs such as synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”) instead.  In addition, some people take MDMA in combination with other drugs such as alcohol or marijuana, which increases the danger of Molly addiction.

What is Molly and The Difference Between Ecstasy and MDMA?

In the past, Molly referred to a more pure form of MDMA than ecstasy.  But pure forms of MDMA are rare in the United States.  Today, Molly and ecstasy may be used interchangeably as street names for MDMA.  Most people who buy the drug know it’s mixed with other unknown substances.  Studies have found that ecstasy tablets contain multiple substances in addition to MDMA. Some of these substances included caffeine, ketamine, methamphetamine, PCP, cocaine, and heroin.  Ecstasy is rarely used alone. Most individuals combine it with alcohol, marijuana, or other substances. Mixing Molly with other drugs can exacerbate the effects of both substances.

The Effects Of Ecstasy, MDMA or Molly Adicction

People use ecstasy to feel happy, energetic, and disconnected from reality.  Others use it to feel the drug’s hallucinatory effects.  It can change how people perceive time.  It also affects vision and hearing.

Side Effects Of MDMA

Many people use ecstasy in risky situations, such as in dance clubs or at music festivals.  They’re more likely to be malnourished, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived in these settings.  Using Molly in risky situations also increases the likelihood of overdosing.

Effects Of MDMA

Effects Of Regular MDMA Use

Sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, concentration difficulties, depression, heart disease, and impulsivity have been associated with Molly addiction or regular use of MDMA.  In addition, heavy MDMA use over two years is associated with decreased cognitive function.  Some of these disturbances may not be directly attributable to MDMA.  Still, they may be related to other drugs often combined with MDMA, such as cocaine, alcohol, or marijuana, or to contaminants commonly found in MDMA tablets.

How Molly Addiction Affects The Brain?

MDMA’s effects last about 3 to 6 hours, although many users take a second dose as the effects of the first dose begin to fade.  Over the week following moderate use of the drug, a person may experience:

Some of these effects may be due to the combined use of MDMA with other drugs, especially marijuana.

Molly Addiction And Overdose Symptoms

Overdosing on MDMA is rarely deadly, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse but it can cause serious health problems, including fever, liver damage, kidney problems, and cardiovascular failure.  Other signs of an MDMA overdose include panic attacks, seizures, and faintness.  In addition, mixing Molly addiction with other drugs or alcohol increases the risks of severe side effects, such as a dangerous rise in body temperature.

How Long Does Ecstasy Last?

The duration of effects varies depending on how a person uses the drug. Unlike other stimulants, ecstasy is most often swallowed, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  When people eat the drug, they usually feel the effects within 30 to 45 minutes.  These direct effects tend to persist for between four and six hours.  It can feel some minor effects for up to two days. MDMA can stay in your system for more than 40 hours, and most drug tests can detect MDMA in the urine two to four days after last use.  Repeatedly using the drug can increase the amount of time it takes for the body to metabolize it, increasing the potency and duration of the effects.

And is MDMA Addictive?

While the drug appears to have addictive properties, research hasn’t concluded how addictive ecstasy is.  However, it affects the same areas of the brain as other addictive drugs, according to NIDA.  In addition, animal studies show that MDMA causes drug-seeking behavior, but animals seek it less often than they desire other addictive drugs.  Some evidence indicates that MDMA affects parts of the brain in charge of self-control, pleasure, and reward. 

Unfortunately, researchers know little about how MDMA affects the brain.  As a result, their understanding of how other drugs lead to addiction is broader.  On the other hand, people who use Molly have reported classic symptoms of addiction, including cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms, and some continue to use the drug despite negative consequences.

Which is the Molly Addiction Treatment?

There are no specific medical treatments for MDMA addiction.  Consequently, some people seeking treatment for MDMA addiction have found behavioral therapy to be helpful. 

Treatment For Ecstasy Abuse & Addiction

Ecstasy is one of the less addictive stimulants and one of the more addictive hallucinogens.  The number of people who listed ecstasy as their primary reason for going to rehab in 2015 was comparable to the number for all other hallucinogens combined, according to the 2005-2015 Treatment Episode Data Set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—in contrast, more than 60 times as many people sought treatment for methamphetamine addiction than ecstasy addiction that year.

No medications are available for the treatment of stimulant addiction. That is why NIDA recommends cognitive behavioral therapy and support groups for people struggling to quit Molly.

We Level Up Treatment Center provides world-class care with round-the-clock medical professionals available to help you cope.  We work as an integrated team providing information about Molly addiction and other aspects of treatment.  Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life.  Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists.  Our specialists know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.