Molly, like ecstasy, is a popular slang name for a stimulant drug named 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It became a popular party drug on the 1990s rave scene. It causes bursts of energy, euphoria and altered states.

MDMA was first developed in 1912 by Merk, a German chemist company. In the 1970s, psychotherapists tested MDMA as a possible treatment drug. By the 1980s, it slipped into the illicit drug trade as an alternative to cocaine and speed.

MDMA is a Schedule I (illegal at the federal level) substance that is not sanctioned for medical purposes. However, the US Food and Drug Administration is investigating its possible benefits.

Effects of Molly

People take Molly for its effects as a party stimulant. At raves, people take Molly to stay awake and enjoy an enhanced experience of the music and surroundings. Molly’s desired effects include:

• Energy – Partygoers feel increased energy while on Molly. Like cocaine and speed, Molly is a stimulant drug that allows people to stay up all night and stay hyperactive on the dance floor.
• Sensory enhancement – Molly alters visual and aural sensations. At clubs, Molly can make the strobe lights look brighter and more colorful. It can also make the sounds more vivid and the beats more resonant.
• Euphoria – Molly creates intense body sensations that put users in overjoyed, blissful moods. At clubs, people often take Molly to forget the stress of the workweek.
• Empathy – Molly breaks down social barriers between strangers at clubs and parties. People become less inhibited and shy on the drug. 

Molly is usually taken as an oral drug. The effects kick in within 30-45 minutes. The high can last anywhere from three to six hours.

Short Term Dangers of Molly

Molly trips don’t always go as desired. First-time users sometimes experience bad side effects that become more common with constant use and abuse of the drug. These problems are even more common when people mix Molly with other stimulants and/or alcohol.

• Blurriness – Molly can make it difficult to see things clearly. Vision can become blurred while under the influence, much like alcohol. Anyone who’s taken Molly within the past six hours should not get behind the wheel.
• Gritting – Molly can cause some users to show signs of nervous behavior, such as body shakes and tooth grinding. 
• Sweats – Molly can raise body temperature and cause the user to sweat, even in cold settings. This might go unnoticed if the user is preoccupied with the drug’s euphoric effects.
• Faster heartbeat – As with other energy drugs (cocaine, speed), Molly can accelerate a user’s heart rate. If the user combines stimulant drugs, it can send the heart racing. If mixed with depressants (alcohol, heroin), Molly can cause arrhythmia. 

Inexperienced users sometimes go overboard the first time out and suffer unexpected consequences. Usually, these adverse symptoms appear once addiction takes hold. Addiction starts when the user grows tolerant of Molly and takes higher doses to repeat the desired effects. This overwhelms the heart and central nervous system.

Dangers of Molly Addiction

Once a person becomes addicted to Molly, the adverse side effects soon give way to worse problems. Some of these symptoms can lead to chronic and lethal health issues.

• Dependence – Molly addiction is not as common as cocaine and speed addiction, but it does happen when people abuse the drug. Once the user takes Molly constantly and thinks about it throughout the day, that’s an addiction.
• Amnesia – Molly can make people forgetful of important things. An ordinary Molly high will render the user suboptimal for as long as the high lasts. Constant Molly abuse can have a cumulative effect on a user’s cognition.
• Insomnia – As a stimulant, Molly makes people energized and restless. People who’ve worked long days take Molly to party long nights. Consequently, it’s hard to sleep properly with Molly in the system.
• Anxiety – Molly can exacerbate anxious feelings in certain individuals. If a user comes to a club or party in an anxious or agitated state, Molly can turbocharge the issue and make the user feel paranoid. 

In cases where the user combines Molly with other drugs and/or alcohol in excess quantities, it could make the user dehydrated and/or overheated.

Molly Substance Use Disorder: Addiction Treatment

Molly addiction rehab programs are seldom advertised due to the relatively low rate of cases. However, most addiction treatment providers offer rehab programs that apply to people addicted to Molly and other drugs. The treatment process generally goes as follows:

• Molly detox – This starts the moment that person stops using Molly and checks into a rehab center. Once there, the patient undergoes several days (typically 3-5 ) of detox under 24/7 medical supervision. Doctors may administer anti-addiction medication to help the patient overcome withdrawal symptoms.
• Inpatient treatment – Most patients follow detox with a 30-90-day stay at a residential treatment center. Here, the patient partakes in individual and group counseling sessions. Rehab also consists of meditation, healthy meals, experiential activities (art therapy, equine therapy), physical activity (yoga, exercise) and anti-drug education.
• Outpatient treatment – Patients can also opt for outpatient programs, which cover all the same grounds as residential treatment (experiential therapy, counseling, group meetings). The difference is that outpatients live at home and come to the center in the daytime for treatment, either full-time (20+ weekly hours) or part-time (9-19 hours).  
• Aftercare – Patients who need further support after rehab can apply for sober-living programs. Some treatment centers will connect patients with support groups and job-placement agencies.

Drug treatment centers are usually located in tranquil country and oceanside settings.

Find Drug Abuse Treatment: Fight Ecstasy Addiction

Molly abuse (or ecstasy addiction) has become a growing concern at drug treatment centers. With drug addiction on the rise, more people are taking stimulants, hallucinogens and downers than ever before. Consequently, today’s treatment centers are better equipped with knowledge on how to handle the problem.

If someone you know is addicted to Molly, contact the nearest treatment centers and ask about their programs. Your call could save a life.