Substance Showdown: Molly vs. Ecstasy

Today’s substance showdown is between two very euphoric “club drugs”; molly, which is the rookie on the scene, and ecstasy, which is our veteran substance. Just like yesterday’s substance showdown between marijuana and alcohol; molly and ecstasy will go head to head for three rounds based on: health effects, insidiousness and legality as well as addictive nature and withdrawal. The substance with the WORST of each round will be the winner. This should be a great match up between two similar substances both MDMA based; one old and one new.

Let us introduce our veteran contender Ecstasy! MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), popularly known as ecstasy, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that has similarities to both the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline

And its opponent; Molly! Molly, short for molecule, is considered to be pure MDMA, unlike Ecstasy, which generally is laced with other ingredients, such as caffeine or methamphetamine.

It’s a substance showdown: Molly v. Ecstasy

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!

ROUND 1: HEALTH EFFECTS

Ecstasy: Ecstasy acts by increasing the activity of three neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Ecstasy causes a large release of serotonin and it also triggers the release of the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, which play important roles in love, trust, sexual arousal, and other social experiences. This may account for the characteristic feelings of emotional closeness and empathy produced by the drug.

Ecstasy effects on the brain: The surge of serotonin caused by taking Ecstasy depletes the brain of this important chemical, causing negative after effects that include confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and anxiety. Some heavy Ecstasy users experience long-lasting confusion, depression, sleep abnormalities, and problems with attention and memory.

Other health effects of ecstasy: Ecstasy users may experience other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. As well as, increases in heart rate and blood pressure

• In high doses, Ecstasy can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. On rare occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can result in liver, kidney, or cardiovascular system failure or even death.
• Ecstasy can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), causing potentially harmful levels to build up in the body if it is taken repeatedly within short periods of time.

The last health effect of ecstasy could be and more often than not is, laced with other drugs such as methamphetamine aka crystal meth. This means you add in a whole new slew of health effects just from that added substance.

Molly: Molly essentially has the same exact health effects (see above) as ecstasy when it comes to producing feelings of euphoria and closeness with other people. Only difference is, molly usually comes in a “pure” powder form, while ecstasy comes in pill form.

Health effects of molly: The same as the health effects (see above) of ecstasy, minus one thing; the supposed risk of it being laced and those health effects. We are going to go ahead and go with the idea of Molly as MDMA in its pure form that doesn’t come with any added substances. So just take out the added health effects of something such as meth that it could be laced with but remember this isn’t always the case and most likely isn’t.

THE WINNER OF ROUND 1 IS: NEITHER, IT IS A DRAW

Both ecstasy and molly have very similar health effects and while molly is touted as being pure there is still a high chance that it is not.

ROUND 2: INSIDIOUSNESS AND LEGALITY

Ecstasy: Ecstasy has been used in a therapeutic settings but that was a long time ago. Today ecstasy or MDMA is considered a Schedule 1 substance under the Drug Enforcement Administration’s guidelines. That means that Ecstasy is very illegal. So there is no insidiousness when it comes to its social acceptance or its legality.

What might give ecstasy its sneaky side is the fact that it does make you feel so good when you take it. Those feelings of warmth and comfort that ecstasy creates are something that you wouldn’t consider in a dangerous drug. Also, ecstasy comes in a pill form that can easily contain hidden substance including crack cocaine, cocaine, meth, speed, GHB, and well pretty much anything.

Ecstasy comes in a colorful bright little pill, stamped with something almost teen or kid friendly, like a smiley face, or a peace sign. Ecstasy is almost marketed on the street to younger adults who are raving and clubbing and the sad thing is they think what they are getting is just ecstasy when that just isn’t true. Ecstasy gets its real insidiousness in its packaging which hides the other substances in it and makes it look “cool” to take. It is like the stranger trying to talk kids into coming with him with a piece of candy.

Molly: Molly is also considered a Schedule 1 substance which means it too is highly illegal in every way possible including therapeutically or medicinally. Molly doesn’t come in a pill form like ecstasy does so the whole marketing aspect of its insidiousness is non-existent. Also, it is highly illegal so it also isn’t insidious in its legality. It might just be insidious in its social acceptance and its rise to notoriety through our mainstream pop culture. Madonna is said to ask people at a concert, “Has anyone seen Molly?” later explaining she wasn’t talking about the drug. The drug Molly has also gotten supposed mentions in Jay-Z’s song “Empire State of Mind” feat. Alicia Keys, and Kanye Wests’ song “Mercy”. Anytime pop icons are mentioning a drug it suddenly becomes “cool” and while not accepted by most adults or parents it definitely is socially accepted between young adults, those who party, club, rave, and are into the mainstream pop culture. The mentions might make it seem okay to take Molly and this makes it slightly insidious.

Also, molly is touted to be “pure” and the word “pure” for anyone taking drugs usually defines into “safe” or “safer”; that or “better”. Because Molly comes in a powder form the truth is it can be cut and laced with pretty much anything without the user knowing it. In fact there may be no molly in the supposed molly powder at all. This makes molly very insidious. Can you imagine getting a little bag of supposed molly powder and really it was all methamphetamine? That’s pretty insidious. Molly is like the girl who looks totally different with her make up off; great with the make up on, and scary and almost unrecognizable as the person you know without it.

AND THE WINNER OF ROUND 2 IS: MOLLY

Because of molly’s supposed purity and its rise to fame through our mainstream pop culture we are going to go ahead and give this round to Molly. Plus Molly is new on the block and not as much is known about it. Sorry Ecstasy but you just aren’t as insidious as molly.

ROUND 3-WITHDRAWAL AND ADDICTION

Ecstasy: Ecstasy is addictive that means that ecstasy has withdrawal symptoms. And while most people don’t end up getting addicted physically to it, mentally it is very easy due to the great feelings it produces. Here are some ecstasy withdrawal symptoms:

• Depression – This is one of the primary Ecstasy withdrawal symptoms that are reported by individuals who wish to stop using the drug; unfortunately, some of the cutting edge research in relation to ecstasy has reported that taking the drug just a couple of times could potentially cause long term brain damage that leads to depression.
• Sleeplessness – This is one of the most commonly ecstasy withdrawal symptoms that occurs when a person attempts to stop using the drug.
• Agitation – This is an Ecstasy withdrawal symptom that is extremely common.
• Difficulty concentrating & Memory Problems

More often than not, a person who is going through the Ecstasy withdrawal process will reach for alcohol or various other types of drugs to help them to relax. This unfortunately will typically just become another addiction to any of these substitute chemicals.

Molly: Molly is just as addictive as ecstasy and has withdrawal symptoms also the ones mentioned above and below. Here are some of the molly withdrawal symptoms:

Molly as well as ecstasy works in a particular way; it brings you up, and then you crash down. The crash occurs when the drug is leaving your body, and this can result in withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Sweating
• Dilated pupils
• Flu-like symptoms
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• Dehydration
• Anxiety
• Depression

THE WINNER OF ROUND 3 IS: NEITHER, IT IS A DRAW

Both ecstasy and molly have very similar withdrawal symptoms and both are categorized as Schedule 1 substances, this makes them totally equal in this round.

THE WINNER OF THIS SUBSTANCE SHOWDOW IS MOLLY!

Molly may have some of the same health effects and it may have some of the same withdrawal symptoms as ecstasy, but when it comes to its insidiousness it has ecstasy beat. And that’s what pushed it over the edge to become our winner, and the worst of the two substances. Molly for right now is accepted as a part of the “party or rave scene” especially with younger people including teens and it is touted as being “pure” which means “safer” which adds also to its insidiousness.

Both ecstasy and molly are potentially dangerous but if you are going to get in the boxing ring with a substance go ahead and pick your battle with the veteran old guy; ecstasy.

If you or your loved one is in need of treatment for Molly or Ecstasy Addiction, please give us a call at 800-951-6135.

Sources:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasy

http://www.ecstasy.ws/ecstasy-withdrawal.htm