Health

What Is Molly?

May 23rd 2015

In clubs, forests, and deserts across America, the question is often asked: What's the difference between MDMA, molly, and ecstasy? The basic answer is pretty simple, but as it always seems to be with unregulated drugs, it can be more complex.

What is MDMA?

MDMA, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a psychoactive drug that typically makes someone feel euphoric and empathetic. Some people experience psychedelic visuals when they consume MDMA, but that's not always the case. The drug was patented in 1912 by the multinational pharmaceutical corporation Merck in an attempt to create a blood clotting agent. They quickly gave up on it. Chemically, it causes your brain to release serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. All three of those chemicals are said to be related to feelings of romantic love. There has been promising research showing MDMA can be used in clinical settings to assist therapy, which can help people suffering from disorders like PTSD. It is said that the drug helps people open up more than they normally would in a therapy session. Otherwise, MDMA is often used at clubs and raves in an attempt to make for a fun evening.

Check out ATTN:'s video on the possible medical uses of MDMA:

What is Molly?

Molly is supposed to be a powder form of MDMA, and it often comes in a gel capsule to hold the powder. Many people look for molly when they seek out MDMA because it's somewhat easy to find, and they don't want the drug to be cut with another drug that they weren't intending to take. That being said, as will happen in the drug world, molly is often cut with a cheaper filler to make selling it more profitable. Molly is sometimes cut with mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant somewhat similar to MDMA, or caffeine powder. It can also be cut with bath salts, which is a term for a drug that looks like bath salts, but it is not the same as the Epsom baggy you keep by your bathtub. Bath salts are a dangerous synthetic drug that can be harmful to your physical and mental health.

What is Ecstasy?

Ecstasy is typically MDMA and another drug pressed into a colorful pill. It is often cut with the other drug to make it easier to make into a pill because MDMA by itself is a little crumbly. Ecstasy pills can be cut with anything from ketamine, an mild anesthetic often used by veterinarians, to something like meth. There seems to be many, many more stories of people dying from taking something they thought was ecstasy than there are stories of people dying from ecstasy itself, so buying it from an untrusted source can be dangerous. That being said, ecstasy itself can raise your body temperature significantly. That can cause problems in certain scenarios, such as when you're in a crowded club.

More myths busted.

While we're at it, let's dispel some myths about ecstasy/MDMA/molly. Since we now know molly is not always pure MDMA, it's not necessarily safer than taking an ecstasy pill. It is also not true that everyone has a good time when taking ecstasy or pure MDMA because some people experience extreme anxiety and panic when they take it.

That being said, we also know MDMA on its own can be used for beneficial reasons, but it's safest to leave that kind of research up to professionals. If you're buying it just to have a good time, be careful.

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