“I’ve only done it once – I was in Barcelona. A bartender in the hostel we were staying at gave it to us and we just took it and rubbed it on our gums.” University of Portland Junior
“I have done it twice. It’s kept on the down low I would say. I like it, it just makes you want to dance and it makes you feel happy. I would say a fair share of people have done it once, or want to do it.” University of Portland Junior
“It’s a social drug. Everyone’s happy and happy with themselves – you’re not all depressed. It’s a time to clear your mind and everything. And like, not think about reality. It kind of blocks you off from reality.” University of Portland Junior
Molly, short for ‘molecule,’ is becoming increasingly popular on college campuses, including UP. However, recent deaths connected to the drug may make some students think twice before taking Molly.
On Aug. 31, a Syracuse University graduate and a University of New Hampshire student died after taking what they believed to be Molly during the Electric Zoo music concert in New York. A University of Virginia student also died that same weekend at a rave in Washington, D.C. At the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Wash., one man died of an overdose during the Paradiso Festival.
Molly is the street name for MDMA, purportedly a pure form of ecstasy. According to the DEA, however, that “purity” is often severely compromised. Molly has been known to contain many contaminants, from “bath salts” to methamphetamines to cocaine.
MDMA often causes serotonin to be released in the brain, producing a high that may last up to six hours. The high varies depending on the dose, the purity, the individual using and the environment in which it is taken. MDMA is described as making people feel euphoric, peaceful and enhancing sensory experiences.
Taking Molly, or ‘rolling,’ was appealing to junior Hanna.
“I rolled a lot in high school and college freshman year,” Hanna said. “I think I took too much of it, to be honest. Like, I did it every other weekend, at least. I used to do it for a couple days in a row if there were really good concerts. I was into more crazy festivals and dubstep and that kind of thing. All my disposable income was going into Molly.”
Hanna liked using Molly because it “brings people closer together,” but the high was not without its costs, especially since Molly is often cut with other substances including cocaine and methamphetamine.
“You never know what you’re going to get – I’ve gotten my share, a lot cut with cocaine, for sure. They’re all cut with something different, there’s no consistency in it,” she said. “A significant portion of Molly is cut with meth. You can tell by the way your body’s acting.”
Chemistry professor Edward Valente warns that uncertain purity may be the biggest risk associated with street drugs like Molly.
“Ordinarily drugs would be in a pure form from a pharmaceutical company, preserved in that fashion by a pharmacist and prescribed by a doctor,” he said. “Drugs that are on the street have no guarantees. You can’t know what they’re cut with, which is to say what they’re contaminated with. There’s very little in quality control.”
Michelle, another UP student, experienced that problem first-hand.
“I stopped doing it sophomore year because there was definitely a point where I was like ‘Wow, I’ve been up for 2 days straight, that wasn’t Molly, that was probably meth.’ We’re in Multnomah County, we’re up there (for meth consumption).”
Rolling can also mean harsh comedowns. Commonly, after taking MDMA, users feel depressed. This period of depression is referred to as the Tuesday Blues or “Suicide Tuesday,” referencing the low mood caused by depleted serotonin levels following MDMA use the previous weekend.
“There have been bad comedowns,” Hanna said. “Literally bawling my eyes out – I just could not stop crying after it.”
Electronic Dance Music [EDM], Raves and Pop Culture
Senior Jordan Jones, a DJ at UP, has seen Molly dominate the EDM scene.
“It’s kind of running on the back of this recent trend in EDM becoming so popular” Jones said. “With raves becoming more popular more kids are doing drugs and they think it’s part of what you do.”
“Psychedelics were a big part of producing this because it was already this other-worldly sounding stuff so people take (Molly) as a way to kind of enhance that experience,” he said.
Jones is disturbed by the drug’s growing popularity, particularly among kids.
“This drug is accessible to really young kids who are at festivals now – I’m talking 13-year-old kids.”
Hanna used Molly principally for EDM concerts.
“It really enhances that unnatural sound, for some reason, that really powerful sound,” she said. “The festival scene is really appealing there. Sometimes raves, it’s super appealing because everyone wants to go out and party, it feels like a good drug. I got to the point where I was spending more on Molly than the concert ticket itself.”
Senior Katy Stevens sees Molly frequently at concerts.
“A lot of people take it because they say it increases the (EDM) experience and a lot of people take it because it’s integrated into the EDM society,” Stevens said. “If you think about it, a lot of these music events are all day events. Who is going to be able to dance for eight hours straight? People on drugs!”
Michelle says people don’t “roll” just for concerts, though.
“I know a lot of people who take Molly and just hang out with their significant others,” she said. “A lot of people who take it hang out and watch TV or look at lights. There’s a lot of people who do it in a more intimate fashion.They’ll have Molly-dates.”
This feeling of “intimacy” is a result of a chemical response in the brain after new chemicals are introduced to the delicate balance of cerebral fluid.
“It releases inhibitions. People under the influence of MDMA are psychologically suggestive,” Valente said. “It can be used for date rape and things like that.”
Valente warns that the brain is a sensitive organ, and introducing foreign chemicals into this intricate network can have disastrous consequences.
“It will affect all of your brain chemicals. Because it interferes with one particular pathway, the others will be regulated up or down as a result of the presence of that chemical,” Valente said. “When you’re fooling around with brain chemistry it’s going to affect all higher functions, and sensory perception.”
Hanna thinks Molly use, like other drug use, might just be a passing fad.
“I think it’s just a phase, most people grow out of it…,” Hanna said. “Eventually it’ll die down, but we’re not at its peak yet. No way.”
Editor’s Note:
In this story, “Hanna,” and “Michelle” are pseudonyms for two UP students. The Beacon granted them anonymity so they could speak freely about their drug use.
Generally, The Beacon avoids the use of anonymous sources because we believe our readers are entitled to know the identities of sources so they can evaluate their credibility for themselves. However, we made an exception in this case, believing the public health benefit of openly discussing the use of Molly outweighs the value of our usual practice regarding anonymous sources.
We do not make this exception lightly, but with the hope it will spark awareness and constructive discussion about drug use.
Molly in Popular Music
"We like to party/ dancing with molly” –Miley Cyrus “We Can’t Stop”
"Palms rise to the universe/ As we moonshine and molly” –Rihanna “Diamonds in the Sky”
"Got your girl on molly and we smokin' loud and drinkin'”
-Nicki Minaj ft. 2 Chainz “Beez in the Trap”
"Let's take it back to the first party/ When you tried your first molly/ And came out of your body" –Kanye West “Blood on the Leaves”
Negative Effects and Risks of Molly
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Hyperthermia, or an elevation of body heat (potentially fatal)
- Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels (potentially fatal)
- Bruxism and Trismus, or the grinding and clenching of teeth (most common side effects)
- Depression, sleep problems, anxiety
3,4-methylenedioxy-N-
methylamphetamine
- A synthetic, psychoactive drug, first synthesized in 1912
- Molly is the street name for MDMA, the main chemical in ecstasy
- Molly is ingested as a pressed pill, snorted as a powder, or taken orally
- 100 mg is considered a typical dose
- Costs range from $10-$60 a tablet
- Molly may be cut with methamphetamine, cocaine, caffeine, Benadryl and a host of other stimulants
