Understanding Molly Addiction

You may have heard that molly isn’t really that dangerous, or that molly addiction is nothing more than a myth. Please know that this information is far from accurate. Using molly can put you at risk for myriad physical and psychological problems, including addiction.

What is Molly?

Molly is an alternate name for a synthetic substance called 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. This drug is often also referred to as MDMA, ecstasy, and E.

MDMA was first synthesized by a German chemist in the early 1900s. Several online sources report that the drug was originally developed as an appetite suppressant, but a systematic review of 60 years’ worth of records from Merck (the company that was responsible for creating MDMA) has revealed that those claims are untrue.

In the United States, molly is currently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that, in the opinion of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), it has no accepted use in medical procedures and also poses a high risk of abuse.

Today, molly is primarily used as a recreational substance. It is often included in the informal category of club drugs, along with Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine.

Molly has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. When a person ingests the drug, it typically takes about 30 minutes for them to feel these effects, which can include:

• Energy boost
• Improved mood
• Enhanced sense of love, empathy, and connection with others

In addition to these pleasurable effects, someone who takes molly may also experience:

• Confusion and disorientation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Racing heart rate
• Elevated body temperature
• Confusion and disorientation
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Tightening of the jaw

Following their onset, molly’s effects typically peak within about 15 minutes and usually last for about two to four hours.

Abusing molly even once can lead to devastating outcomes, and using the drug multiple times can increase a person’s risk for lasting damage. Can this extensive harm include the development of molly addiction? We’ll answer that question in the next section.

Is Molly Addictive?

Given the drug’s powerful effects, it is natural to worry about the risk of developing an addiction to molly, especially if you use it frequently.

The good news is that molly doesn’t pose the same risk of addiction as other commonly abused substances – such as alcohol, stimulants, and opioids – do. The bad news is that even though molly addiction is relatively rare, it can occur.

As we established in the previous section, molly abuse can expose you to both physical and psychological harm. A complete list of all dangers associated with MDMA use should definitely include the potential risk of addiction to molly.

What Does Molly Addiction Look Like?

The two main signs of molly addiction are tolerance and withdrawal:

• Tolerance means that molly doesn’t seem to have the same effect on you that it used to. This requires you to ingest larger doses of the drug to achieve the high that you could previously experience after using a smaller amount.
• Withdrawal can refer to a variety of distressing physical and/or psychological effects that occur when you abruptly stop using a drug that you have become dependent on. In the case of molly addiction, withdrawal primarily involves psychological symptoms, such as intense cravings, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty thinking clearly.

Someone who has developed an addiction to molly may also exhibit signs such as:

• Finding it difficult to experience joy or pleasure without using molly
• Spending considerable amounts of time thinking about, seeking, acquiring, and using molly
• Failing to meet their responsibilities at home, in school, or at work as a result of their molly use
• Using molly in ways that are obviously hazardous, such as by combining it with alcohol or other drugs
• Losing interest in hobbies, sports, or other activities that were important to them
• Withdrawing from family and friends, which may include lying about how they have been spending their time and who they have been associating with
• Continuing to use molly even after incurring harm as a direct result of prior use

Dangers of Molly Addiction

Molly addiction can put a person at risk for various types of harm, including:

• Dehydration
• Damage to the liver and kidneys
• Heart problems
• Impaired memory
• Hyperpyrexia (dangerously high body temperature)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Disrupted sleep patterns

Also, the disorientation and increased sense of connection that are characteristic of molly abuse can also put people in danger of being sexually assaulted or otherwise victimized. 

How to Overcome Molly Addiction Safely?

If you have been unsuccessful in your attempts to stop using molly, it may be time to start thinking about professional treatment.

Effective treatment for molly addiction can take many forms, depending on your specific needs, goals, and expectations. There’s no such thing as a “perfect program” that works for everyone, so you will want to focus on finding the option that’s best for you.

If you have been experiencing particularly intense withdrawal symptoms when you try to end your molly use, a detoxification (detox) program may be the best place to begin your recovery journey.

After you’ve completed detox, you may transfer into one of the following programs:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Outpatient care

Some people only spend time in one of these programs, while others receive care in several or all of them. Again, there is no right or wrong way to recover from molly addiction. The best path forward is whichever one is right for you.

Within these programs, you may participate in a variety of therapies and support services, such as:

• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Psychodrama
• Trauma-focused therapy
• Relapse prevention education
• Dual diagnosis services

As you prepare to transition out of treatment, you should receive a detailed discharge plan, which can connect you with the services that will support your continued recovery efforts in the months and years to come.

Contact Los Angeles Detox About Molly Treatment

If you have become dependent on molly or any other addictive substances, LA Detox is here to help.

Our team will work with you to understand the full scope of your needs, identify your short- and long-term goals, and develop a customized plan to help you end your molly use for good, so that you can live a healthier life in recovery.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.