Some people believe Molly is relatively safe compared to other drugs like heroin or cocaine. The truth is this “party drug” can have serious consequences that might surprise you. In one year alone, Molly was involved in 22,498 drug-related visits to the emergency room according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Beyond potentially sending you to the hospital, the emotional and physical health effects of Molly can impact you for the rest of your life.
What Is Molly?
Molly is a synthetic drug most frequently used by teenagers and young adults. It gained a reputation as a club drug in the 1990’s and has since been in regular attendance at music festivals, raves, and nightclubs. Molly goes by other names like:
- MDMA
- Ecstasy
- Love drug
- Adam
- X
- E
The street drug is most commonly referred to as ecstasy or molly. Ecstasy pills are brightly colored and have imprints on them to designate their brand or formula. Users say taking the drug gives them increased energy level and sex drive and makes them feel uninhibited and emotionally “warm.” However, many will find that the desired short-term effects aren’t worth the potential damaging long-term effects of ecstasy abuse.
Effects of Molly on the Nervous System
Ecstasy abuse affects the brain and central nervous system by changing your brain chemicals. The drug works on the brain’s reward center to release more of your natural feel-good chemicals than normal. This process is what gives you the high you feel from MDMA. With continued use of drugs that impact chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, your brain becomes depleted of them. It starts having a hard time producing normal amounts on its own because it’s become to rely on substance abuse to help. This can have several short-term and long-term effects on your central nervous system, including:
- Mood disorders like depression
- Memory loss and impairment
- Poor attention
- Impairments in sexual functions
- Issues with moving and other motor functions
- Trouble interpreting visual information and blurred vision
- Developing a substance use disorder
Effects of Molly on the Respiratory System
The effects of MDMA on the respiratory system is still a new area of research studies, but preliminary studies show users may be at risk for a few conditions. Some ecstasy users have experienced:
- Fluid in the lungs
- Injury to air sacs
- Shortness of breath
- Respiratory arrest
Effects of Molly on the Circulatory System
People who take ecstasy can put strain on their circulatory system that can result in several adverse effects. These include:
- Increased blood pressure
- High heart rate
- Increased oxygen consumption by the heart
- Drug-induced heart disease
- Heart attack
Some of these risks, like heart attack, are tied to behaviors around the drug. For instance, many people use ecstasy to stay up late, dancing at clubs or raves. Dancing for long periods of time without enough fluids can lead to dehydration, which puts you at risk for electrolyte imbalances and heart attack. If you already have a heart condition, ecstasy and high-risk behaviors around it can lead to more serious heart issues.
Digestive System
One of the effects of drug abuse is havoc in your gut. Taking large amounts of ecstasy and other synthetic drugs can lead to uncomfortable side effects upon taking them or recovering from them (withdrawal symptoms). These may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Stomach pain
- Acid reflux
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Bowel tissue decay
Endocrine System
Drugs like Molly can disrupt the way your hormones work. Symptoms of ecstasy use that can impact the endocrine system may include:
- Lower testosterone as well as damage to DNA and testes tubules in men.
- Male-pattern baldness and increased body hair in women.
Other Dangerous Effects of Molly
It’s important to note that these effects are only related to Molly. Many people who use Molly are also using other drugs. This can be a dangerous and deadly combination that will intensify the health risks of Molly and compound it with risks from other addictive substances.
Another reason Molly can be dangerous is that since it’s a street drug, you have no way of knowing what makers have cut it with. It could be anything from bath salts or cocaine to meth or the deadly substance, fentanyl. This can put you at risk for toxic reactions or overdose depending on how your body reacts and how much you take.
Get Help for Substance Abuse
Ecstasy’s effects on the body and brain aren’t worth it. If you feel like you’re addicted to ecstasy, get help. Spending time in a drug rehab center can be a life-changing experience. There are reasons you’re turning to drugs and alcohol. Addiction treatment helps you address those reasons so you can live a healthier, more authentic life. You’ll learn relapse prevention skills and build a sober network of peers that can help you stay sober when you return to everyday life.
Footprints to Recovery uses approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR proven to help people struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis) like depression and anxiety. Our staff are addiction and mental health experts who are passionate about your recovery. We’ve seen thousands of clients take back their lives from substance abuse. You can too. Call us today for a free consultation.
References
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-is-the-scope-of-mdma-use-in-the-united-states
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124186798000150
- https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2016.193.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1616
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20420571/
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse/gastrointestinal-effects
- https://wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.414
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse/hormonal-effects
