MDMA or methylenedioxymethamphetamine is popularly known as ecstasy and molly.  Molly is commonly sold in either capsule or powder form.  Molly is usually swallowed but may also be snorted, while ecstasy is generally sold as colored tablets.  Some users don’t even know what is MDMA and the ingredients it has, making it more dangerous and can cause negligent actions.

MDMA is a Schedule I Drug

This indicates the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recognizes it as having no medical use and a high potential for misuse or addiction.  As a result, it’s illegal to sell, buy, or use any form of MDMA — including molly — in the United States.

There are also potent designer cathinone stimulants known by the street name “bath salts,” often marketed as molly.  People taking these substitutes have solid cravings and much more violent reactions.

Some Other Names for Ecstasy

How Does MDMA Affect the Brain?

MDMA boosts the activity of three brain chemicals such as:

Dopamine

• Produces increased energy/activity and acts in the reward system to reinforce behaviors.

Norepinephrine

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure are hazardous for people with heart and blood vessel problems.

Serotonin

• It affects mood, appetite, sleep, and other functions. It also triggers hormones that affect sexual arousal and trust.  The release of large amounts of serotonin likely causes the emotional closeness, elevated mood, and empathy felt by those who use MDMA.  [1]

Symptoms of MDMA Use

It is chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens, producing feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception.  [2]

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), some people who use molly regularly may experience dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Molly takes effect within 30 to 45 minutes.  Its effects last around six hours.  To clarify, it can take up to two days for molly to clear from the body.

Some Immediate Symptoms From Taking MDMA

In addition, taking molly may have dangerous, and in some cases, life-threatening effects on your body.

Severe Symptoms of MDMA Use

Risks of Using MDMA

MDMA is a stimulant.  It also has some hallucinogenic properties similar to mescaline or peyote.  It affects the brain, heart, and other major organs.

Sometimes the drug can cause severe reactions.  It depends on the person taking it and if they’re using other drugs or alcohol with molly; otherwise MDMA can be a boof drug, this kind of use increase the damage and risks of MDMA use. it could even be fatal.

When molly wears off, you may undergo withdrawal symptoms.  These can include:

Withdrawal symptoms can worsen if you raise your dose and number of uses.  Therefore, these symptoms may point to an addiction or substance use disorder.

To keep withdrawal symptoms at bay, some people may regularly use molly.  Some dangers of repeated molly use can include:

Causes of MDMA Use Disorder

There are distinctions between tolerance, dependence, and addiction to a drug.  Some people develop a tolerance for drugs.  However, with persistence, you need to use a higher dose of the drug or use it more often to get the same effects as when you first started taking it.  This is sometimes why people take more molly or ecstasy over time.

When your body becomes dependent on a drug like a molly, you can have physical and emotional symptoms, or withdrawal symptoms, from the medicine if you cease using it.

A substance use disorder involves dependence as well as a complex brain-reward system.  The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a significant role.  Unfortunately, in some people, it also creates solid cravings for molly.  This can have severe effects on the brain and body.  In addition, the use of the drug becomes compulsive even when it causes harm, like enduring poor health or losing relationships or jobs.

There are also genetic, environmental, and social viewpoints to substance use disorders.

Research is unclear on molly’s addictive potential.  It has the same attributes as other stimulant drugs like cocaine, but it’s not as strong. However, addiction may be possible if there’s regular or heavy use.

Other stimulants are often mixed with molly.  Depending on what they are, these stimulants may be more addictive than molly alone.  And this complicates the user’s addiction.

What is MDMA Use Disorder Diagnosis?

Some people do show indications of drug dependence and withdrawal with regular MDMA use.

A qualified addiction professional can help you manage these symptoms and recover.

Behaviors That May Be a Result of MDMA Addiction

The following behaviors are associated with an MDMA use disorder:

Treatment for MDMA Use Disorder

Treatment for MDMA use disorder involves managing withdrawal symptoms, lessening cravings for the drug, and preventing relapse.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t authorized any medications to treat MDMA use disorder. 

If you’re concerned about molly’s use, reach out to a trained healthcare professional for supervision and help.

When To Get Help

You’ll need urgent intervention when your use of ecstasy starts to get out of control.  This will be shown by symptoms and complications that you may begin to exhibit, such as cardiovascular breakdown, kidney damage, severe depression, as well as psychosis, among many other likely symptoms of abuse.

MDMA Addiction Treatment

Ecstasy addiction is a dangerous illness that can put any user at life-threatening risk.  While addiction to the drug can cause significant impairment to every aspect of your life, you should be concerned that you may lose your life in the long run.  Therefore, if your loved one is showing severe indications of addiction, you must get them help.

To break free from ecstasy or MDMA addiction, you ideally need professional help, especially when your issue is chronic, and you may have abused other drugs besides ecstasy.  Treatment for ecstasy in a detox facility will always be personalized to your unique condition.

Detox

Your treatment program will ideally start with medical detox, in which your body will get rid of the ecstasy traces still in your system.  This process will approach your physical dependence on the drug and manage your withdrawal symptoms properly.

Rehab

Once detox is over, you’ll transition to residential care type of rehab, where you’ll go through psychological treatment via behavioral therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, among others.

Aftercare

Your rehabilitation from addiction will not end with treatment.  Recovery is an ongoing process that goes beyond your treatment, and your treatment center will put you through an aftercare program once you leave the facility.  It would help if you also made a personal effort by joining support groups to help you stay on track with recovery.

What is MDMA doing is not just recreational but will cause addiction problems in the long run. It’s like living a life revolving around the drug only.

If you or someone you love is seeking a safe, secure, and compassionate resource for MDMA addiction treatment, We Level Up New Jersey is here for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us to speak with an addiction counselor today about our levels of care.  

Sources:

[1-2] MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) – National Institute on Drug Abuse