Molly use on upswing
Recently, two deaths were linked with the drug “molly” at the Electric Zoo concert in New York. The concert was shut down after the reported deaths. Fox news reported that Olivia Rotondo, one of the victims told an EMS worker before collapsing in a seizure and dying, “I just took six hits of molly.” They further indicated that city officials said that at least four other attendees were in intensive care due to suspected drug overdoses related to the drug. These are not isolated occurrences, as it has been shown that the use of Molly is on the upswing.
Fox also reports that …”last week in Boston a 19-year-old girl died of a suspected overdose following a concert. In June, a man died and dozens more were treated for overdosing on molly at a music festival in Washington state. In 2009, government data reported 22,816 emergency-room visits due to MDMA, a 123 percent increase from 2005 – and several experts say its usage is still climbing.”
Drug users have named “Molly” —slang for “molecular”— a pure crystalline powder form of the club drug MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine). It is a drug that in pill form is known as ecstasy. The NIDA also reports that abuse of this drug is on the rise. “Molly”, which is usually purchased in capsules, has seen a surge in interest in the past few years, also reportedly often abused by popular music artists. The NIDA reports that MDMA in any form produces energy and euphoria in users but also may dangerously affect body temperature and cause confusion, depression, and sleep problems.
Users may be seeking out “Molly” to avoid substitutes known to be commonly found in pills sold as ecstasy, such as caffeine, methamphetamine, and other harmful drugs. But those who purchase what they think is pure MDMA as Molly may actually be exposing themselves to the same risks. Hundreds of “Molly” capsules tested in two South Florida crime labs in 2012, for example, contained methylone, a dangerous stimulant commonly found in “bath salts”. Reports have also indicated that “Molly” capsules have been found containing cocaine, heroin, and other substances.
That’s another problem Fox news reported on as well. The purity of what users expect is in question. They quote Dr. Jayson Calton as saying that … ”the issue is mostly what it (Molly) is cut with, and the fact that most people who use it abuse it. Also, it causes the body temperature to skyrocket to 105-106 and makes individuals more prone to heat stroke.”
Why then are some of today’s biggest pop music stars intent on glorifying molly? Miley Cyrus’ song “We Can’t Stop” includes the line “dancing with molly” and Kanye West’s new track “Blood on the Leaves” features the phrase “when we tried our first molly and came out of our body” reports Fox. They also indicate that his track “Mercy” contains the lyric “something bout Mary she gone off that Molly.” Fox also reports that, “this kind of tacit endorsement of the drug by some of pop music’s biggest stars is incredibly dangerous.”
Finally, again from Fox’s report, sociologist Dr. Hilary Levey Friedman has indicated that “a drug like molly is deceiving because many think it’s safer than others, like cocaine, but death is possible even from the related form of ecstasy. That fact, combined with the previous Disney incarnation of Hannah Montana, creates a potentially toxic combination especially for young, female music fans.”
All in all, the use of mollys should be something parents are discussing openly with their teens and educating them about the dangers despite what their favorite pop star is encouraging in the lyrics of their songs. For more info, visit foxnews.com or drugabuse.com.