Abstract
There have been several instances where a drug has been developed for medicinal purposes but has eventually become more popular as an intoxicant. Ecstasy and Molly are two of the most prominent MDMAs today. While they differ in the manner in which they are consumed as well as the intensity of their reaction, the impact they have on the mind and health of a human being is mostly the same. This paper addresses the characteristics of each and traces its impact.
Addiction and intoxication by several substances have been used as a common way to find bliss and pleasure since the ancient days. Alcohol is one such substance whose use is appreciated even in “the Bible”. Gradually as the world became more civilized, different other intoxicating substances emerged along with alcohol. Drugs such as Heroin and Cocaine became so popular among the youngsters that the governments of several countries were compelled to ban these drugs as these have a detrimental effect on health. As time passed, more and more harmful intoxicating substances came into the market. Two such substances are Molly and Ecstasy.
What is Molly and Ecstasy?
Molly is a pure crystal or powder form of MDMA. Whereas, Ecstasy is the mixture of MDMA with many other substances like methamphetamine, caffeine, etc. The full form of MDMA is 3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that MDMA functions as a stimulant, refreshment and a psychoactive. MDMA is basically a methamphetamine that is a derivative of methylenedioxy. These are purely artificially made drugs (Csomor, 2012).
Popularity of Molly
Molly is a Schedule 1 prohibited drug. It is highly abused by the youngsters. It has no acknowledged application in remedial treatment. All these illustrate that Molly is an illegal drug. The use of Molly has become so popular that, according to CNN, in a show of Madonna in Miami; posters were seen asking "Have you seen molly?” Even when Madonna introduced a performer, the performer asked the audience "How many people in this crowd have seen molly?” but later it was clarified that they mentioned a song, not the illegal drug (Csomor, 2012).
How is Molly and Ecstasy consumed?
All the MDMA, including Molly acts as a psychoactive and hallucinatory agent for refreshment. It is parachuted, eaten or inhaled. Sometimes it may also be swallowed by folding in a tissue (Csomor, 2012). But it is mostly taken as tablets or capsules. The effect of these MDMA lasts typically for 3 to 6 hours. Once it is consumed, the consumer becomes so much addicted that a second dose is very normal before the fading of the effect of the first dose (MDMA (Ecstasy), 2012).
Composition of Molly
There is a huge debate regarding the composition of Molly. Though the DEA describes Molly as MDMA, Carl Hart, an associate professor of Columbia University of psychology, assumed that some researchers think about molly as a chemical Benzo Fury or 6-APB. According to Messer, butylone, mephedrone, methylone, MDPV, etc. are the different components of Molly. Some users of Molly even believe that Molly is composed of fertilizers (Csomor, 2012).
Composition of Ecstasy
Different potentially detrimental substances, such as synthetic cathinones are used as the hallucinatory component found in “bath salts”. An Ecstasy tablet with MDMA may contain other harmful substances like ephedrine which is a refreshment and stimulates the brain, dextromethorphan which a cough suppressant and many other substances like methamphetamine, cocaine, caffeine or ketamine. It is very dangerous to mix other intoxicating substances and drugs with ecstasy. Some users mix different substances intentionally, like alcohol or even marijuana and that has the highest adverse effect upon the user’s health (MDMA (Ecstasy), 2012).
Euphoric feeling with Molly and Ecstasy
At the initial stage when Molly is administered, it tastes bitter. But as soon as the kick of the drug gets higher, all the bitter taste and bitter feelings are forgotten. A feeling of bliss and happiness prevails in the mind of the person who has taken Molly. Immediately the surrounding seems to be so comfortable that all the depressions seem to vanish. Molly plays a role of a “Magical Wand” to remove all the tensions, worries and depression of day to day life. Once taken, Molly increases the energy of the mind and the person feels so energetic that he can even dance the whole night long (Csomor, 2012).
How does Molly affect our psychological behavior?
- Affecting neurotransmitters-
As soon as the drug Molly is swallowed, it makes the consumer’s brain sink with neurotransmitters like dopamine, nor-epinephrine and serotonin. The release of these neurotransmitters makes them feel ecstatic, compassionate and full of vigor (Csomor, 2012).
- Psychotic phenomena
Ecstasy may seldom generate a condition of intoxication that resembles paranoia like psychosis. But it disappears within a short spell. Although Ecstasy is not recognized as a hallucinatory drug, it may produce hallucination in some cases (Jansen).
- De-realization and de-personalization
The feeling that a person standing in front is not real is known as de-personalization. And in case of de-realization the environment and surroundings seem to be virtual. This type of psychological vulnerability occurs due to extreme fatigue along with symptoms like temporal lobe epilepsy, anxiety, depression and schizophrenia (Jansen).
- Depression
A short period of depression is also common after the consumption of Ecstasy or Molly. But if anyhow Ecstasy is taken in a chronic manner, then depression may last for a longer time. Depression is related to the abnormalities of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
- Panic attacks and anxiety disorders as a result of taking Ecstasy
Different researches showed that people who have consumed Ecstasy suffered several deadly effects including Panic attacks and anxiety disorders rather than having normal depressions. Several published and reputed medical reports confirm that anxiety disorders are more common and more pathetic to tolerate than the depressive stages and after consuming Ecstasy anxiety disorders are very common.
The nerve terminals that are serotonergic are mainly involved in the control of anxiety. These are chiefly responsible for mood swing and control. Ecstasy generally affects the serotonergic terminals leading to the fluctuations in mood (Jansen).
- The undesirable mental effects of Molly and Ecstasy
An evaluation of undesirable responses caused by ecstasy was reviewed by McCann et al. (1996). Contemporary study and line of experiment illustrates that the confirmation is light and retrospective. It is more often uncontrolled, normally deficient in toxicological affirmation of the drugs consumed. Even it is deficient in complete data on course of dose and its results thereafter. It hardly ever discloses psychological conditions to toxicological consequences, and depends a lot on sole experimental cases. But on the other hand often winds up root and result relations from that what is a chance factor (Jansen).
How does the MDMA like Molly and Ecstasy affect our brain?
MDMA operates by escalating the action of three most important neurotransmitters, namely nor-epinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. The emotional, expressive and pro-social special effects of MDMA are most probably due to the direct or indirect discharge of huge quantity of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that influences our mood, brings abnormalities in sleep and appetite. The hormones vasopressin and oxytocin are also released when triggered by Serotonin. The release of these two hormones acts strongly in making love, sexual stimulation, faith and further communal incidents. The release of these hormones may explain the distinguishing thoughts of arousing intimacy and compassion that even lead to unsafe sex.
After the short-term hallucinating and euphoric effects of MDMA are over, the user feels the negative effects as well. Excessive fretfulness, drug hankering, sleep problems, despair including mental confusion prevails for a long time, may be even for weeks. Some addicted and long time users of MDMA face confusions that remain for a long time, abnormalities while sleeping, extreme depression, mental disorder, memory loss etc. But it is assumed that these serious effects are the cause of a combination of other injurious intoxicating drugs that are administered along with MDMA. The effect is mostly seen when MDMA is swallowed with marijuana (MDMA (Ecstasy), 2012).
How does the MDMA like Molly and Ecstasy affect our health?
Molly and Ecstasy show the similar physical effects that are seen in case of other stimulants including amphetamines and cocaine. After using these substances, high blood pressure and increased heart rate is observed. Excessive sweating, chills, fainting, faint vision, nausea, uncontrolled teeth clenching, extreme muscle tension etc. are somewhat inevitable. After taking an MDMA dose higher than the normal, the thermoregulation of the body goes beyond control. This sometimes leads to quick increase of the temperature of the body. This situation is known as “Hyperthermia”. Hypothermia results in the damage and even failure of the cardiovascular system, kidney and liver. This often leads to death also. Molly and Ecstasy can hamper our normal body metabolism also.
Furthermore, the special effect of MDMA promotes closeness and intimacy, and when it is used with sildenafil sexual arousal occurs to an extreme extent that persuades the consumer to follow unsafe sex. This type of unsafe sex is the main factor responsible for the spread of hepatitis or AIDS (MDMA (Ecstasy), 2012). It is apparent that significant, thorough studies are essential to ascertain the exact intensity of grave, undesirable mental effects caused by consuming Molly or Ecstasy. Hence, the generation “Y” should be made aware against the use of these substances for a short-term mental relief and peace at the cost of normal and healthy life.
Works cited:
Csomor, M. (2012). There's something (potentially dangerous) about molly. CNN.
Jansen, D. K. (n.d.). Adverse Psychological Effects of Ecstasy use and Their Treatment. Retrieved April 19, 2013, from ecstasy.org: http://www.ecstasy.org/info/karl.html
MDMA (Ecstasy). (2012, December). Retrieved April 19, 2013, from National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasy
