What Is Molly?

According to DrugAbuse.gov, Molly, also known as methylenedioxy-methamphetamine or MDMA is a synthetic drug that has mood and perception altering effects. It has similarities to both stimulants and hallucinogens, by producing feelings of emotional warmth, pleasure, increased energy and distortion of time perception and altering of sensory perception.

MDMA first came to popularity in the nightclub, college and rave party scene. Since then, the drug has expanded to other recreational users, no matter what age or social circle they involve themselves in. It is most commonly known as a form of ecstasy.

What Does Molly Do?

Molly works by interacting with three naturally occurring chemicals in the body and increases their activity in the brain. The sudden increase and stimulation are what produces the irresistible euphoric high for its users and gets them hooked.

The three chemicals found in the body that Molly manipulates are:

  • Dopamine. Dopamine is the reward system for the brain, and the release of dopamine tells the body something positive is happening and reinforces the behaviors that signaled it’s release. Once dopamine is released, the body thinks the action is good, needed, and wants more immediately.
  • Norepinephrine: The release of this hormone in the body causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This can be very dangerous for someone who has issues with their heart and can cause severe long-term issues.
  • Serotonin: This can also be referred to as the happy chemical. When your body releases it, it affects mood, appetite, and sleep. It also works to trigger the release of other hormones related to sexual arousal and trust, which causes feelings of emotional closeness and bonds with people. This can get Molly users into some scary situations, such as abuse, rape or murder.

Short-Term Effects

Molly is a very dangerous drug, and its short-term effects can be very intense. The short term effects from Molly (also known as MDMA or Ecstasy) can include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Blurred vision
  • Chills
  • Dehydration
  • Sweating
  • Teeth clenching

The effects of Molly last a few hours. Some users take additional doses as the effects of the drug begins to wear off, and this is commonly referred to as “stacking.” This binge use of Molly usually leads to a more difficult “crash”, which is the experience of the withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal from Molly

Once the substances have worn off, the body is left to readjust. This can be an uncomfortable process called withdrawal. Some effects from MDMA withdrawal may include:

  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Impulsiveness
  • Insomnia
  • Aggression
  • Decreased appetite
  • Sweating
  • Attention problems
  • Decreased pleasure from sexual activities

Withdrawal symptoms usually start within 12 hours after the last dose of Molly. These uncomfortable symptoms are a result of the brain working to stabilize itself to return to normal levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The symptoms may last weeks, or even months, depending on the length and severity of the addiction. The longer someone uses Molly, or the higher doses were, the longer the duration of the withdrawal symptoms might be.

Is Molly Addictive?

The more you take Molly, the more your tolerance builds and dependency can kick in. This dependency is caused by your brain feeling rewarded so often, that it thinks the substance is now required in order to function. This can cause severe cravings and addictive behaviors.

While not everyone might agree that Molly is addictive, that doesn’t mean that a behavioral addiction to taking Molly can’t take form. This can include becoming addicted to the party lifestyle, using Molly in favor of handling responsibilities or hobbies once enjoyed and using Molly at inappropriate times.

Signs of Addiction

It can be difficult to decipher whether or not your loved one, especially a college student, may be having issues with Molly. Even if they are away at school, there are still ways you can determine if Molly has gotten in the way of living a successful, healthy lifestyle in school. Some of the signs of addiction in a college student can include:

  • Failing Grades
  • Sleeping problems
  • Missing or Skipping Classes
  • Financial Hardships
  • Hygiene issues
  • Lack of motivation
  • Sudden Mood Swings
  • Lack of staying in touch with family
  • Concerning social media posts

About Pinelands Recovery Center

You can get help for addiction to Molly and still have a productive life or college experience. Finding situations where you won’t be influenced into taking drugs by developing healthy peer groups is very possible. The main purpose for you when you go to post-secondary institutions is to get an education, and having an addiction to Molly doesn’t have to define you. Seeking help, so you can get the tools you need to succeed in your goals. You can progress in your college life, while still having a fun and rewarding experience.

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.

We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy life.

We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit pinelandsrecovery.com