This vogue among teenagers and young adults, together with the widespread belief that “ecstasy” is a safe drug, has led to a thriving illicit traffic in it. But these drugs also have serious toxic effects, both acute and chronic, that resemble those previously seen with other amphetamines and are caused by an excess of the same sympathomimetic actions for which the drugs are valued by the users. Neurotoxicity to the serotonergic system in the brain can also cause permanent physical and psychiatric problems. A detailed review of the literature has revealed over 87 “ecstasy”-related fatalities, caused by hyperpyrexia, rhabdomyolysis, intravascular coagulopathy, hepatic necrosis, cardiac arrhythmias, cerebrovascular accidents, and drug-related accidents or suicide. The toxic or even fatal dose range overlaps the range of recreational dosage. The available evidence does not yet permit an accurate assessment of the size of the problem presented by the use of these drugs.

  • Ecstasy should not be taken with other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana, as doing so increases health risks.
  • Heart rate and blood pressure, which are usually elevated during the drug experience, tend to fluctuate more widely than normal during the following days.
  • The reality is that MDMA is man-made and typically produced in illegal labs using a variety of hazardous chemicals.
  • As the effects begin to fade, people often take another dose of ecstasy to double the time it lasts.

United States

Concerns are especially high for those who are still in middle or high school as their brains are not fully developed. In 2023, an estimated 0.4% of eighth graders (13 years old) said they used ecstasy in the last year. Almost double that number of 10th and 12th graders reported using ecstasy in the previous year. The federal survey found that ecstasy was most popular among adults aged 26 and older. In 2023, more than 1.5 million adults in this age group used ecstasy compared with about 520,000 adults aged 18 to 25. An estimated 75,000 kids aged 12 to 17 reported using ecstasy in 2023.

  • An estimated 75,000 kids aged 12 to 17 reported using ecstasy in 2023.
  • On the other hand, there is a large difference between “ecstasy” and heroin and other opioids.
  • Popular with young people since the 1980s, raves are parties often held in locations such as warehouses, nightclubs, and fields.
  • It increases levels of energy, happiness, and empathetic feelings toward others but also causes negative effects, from muscle cramps to depression to heart failure.
  • Researchers are also studying MDMA as a treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in supervised clinical research trials.

The process also poses extreme health hazards due to exposure to toxic chemicals and the risk of explosion. The current studies aren’t in agreement as to whether MDMA can cause addiction. However, some people do report forming addictive behaviors around it. Current regulations have classed MDMA as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. This means that it’s thought to have a high potential to be abused and that it’s not legally considered to have health benefits.

Contamination With Other Drugs

The dangers are exacerbated by the fact that each dose may vary in strength and composition. Many users suffer severe reactions from taking what they believe is MDMA but is in fact a blend of unknown chemicals. Searches like “how to make MDMA at home” or “can you make molly? ” are not uncommon, but manufacturing MDMA without proper facilities and licenses is a felony offense.

Outpatient Mental Health Facility Address

Although proposed as an aid to psychiatric counselling, therapeutic use is extremely limited. Illicit MDMA is normally seen as tablets, many of which are manufactured in Europe. It acts as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and has a weak hallucinogenic property more accurately described as increased sensory awareness. The ability of MDMA to increase the concentration of serotonin in the synapse probably underlies its production of improved mood and of sensory alterations. However, at higher doses the massive release of serotonin not only gives rise to acute psychotic symptoms (as described earlier) but also causes chemical damage to the cells that released it. However, it is not possible to say whether this is because of disappointment with the results, or because of difficulty obtaining the drug since its change in legal status.

How Is Molly Made? Breaking Down the MDMA Production Process

Molly, also known as MDMA or ecstasy, has become a popular party drug known for its euphoric and energetic effects. Despite its widespread use at clubs, raves, and music festivals, many people are unaware of how molly is made, what it is made from, and why it poses serious health and legal risks. From its chemical ingredients to the dangers of homemade MDMA labs, understanding the full story is essential. Research suggests MDMA is potentially addictive, although more research is needed.

Ecstasy is made by chemically synthesizing MDMA in illegal labs. The process involves safrole, isosafrole, and MDP2P, and is highly dangerous. Molly is supposed to be pure MDMA, but it’s often cut with other drugs like meth or caffeine. Let Asana Recovery help you reclaim your health and future with compassionate, evidence-based care. Call us today to learn more about our programs or to begin your journey to lasting recovery. The lack of regulation and testing makes it impossible to ensure the safety or authenticity of any street-sold molly.

This chemical is converted into isosafrole and then into MDP2P, which undergoes further reactions to become MDMA. This process requires advanced knowledge of chemistry and access to controlled substances. Anyone wondering how to make molly or how MDMA is made should be aware that the procedure is both illegal and highly dangerous.

MDMA is legally controlled in most of the world under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and other international agreements, although exceptions exist for research and limited medical use. In general, the unlicensed use, sale or manufacture of MDMA are all criminal offences.

Other drugs in this chemical group include methamphetamine and cathinone. The chemical is called 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, or MDMA. Ecstasy should not be taken with other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana, as doing so increases health risks. Therefore, logic supports the view that these disturbances are indeed residual consequences of the drug use. Makers may add anything they choose to the drug, such as caffeine, amphetamine1 and even cocaine. Ecstasy is illegal and has effects similar to hallucinogens and stimulants.

However, some researchers are studying ways that MDMA might be useful as a treatment for certain mental health conditions. MDMA is often called molly or ecstasy and is Ecstasy ingredients frequently taken in pill or capsule form. Depending on the type of drug test used, ecstasy can be detected for three to five days after taking it. Typically, its effects last between four and six hours, but you may feel them for weeks. This can help prevent bruxism, the medical term for the type of teeth clenching that ecstasy can cause.

Molly may come in the form of gel capsules or tablets, which are often colorful and come in a variety of shapes. They typically display logos, such as smiley faces, cartoon characters, or symbols used by popular brands such as Nike and Mercedes. Many of the fatal cases described later in this review had pulmonary edema, which is a sign of heart failure.

Give the dispatcher your exact location so the ambulance can get to you as quickly as possible. It’s important to know that the effects of ecstasy will be different from person to person. Your health, weight, the amount you’ve taken, and other drugs used with ecstasy can all play a role. These differences can cause a person to react differently to the effects of ecstasy when on the drug and coming down from it. In addition to the high you get from ecstasy, the drug also causes many unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects that affect your mind and your body. In Australia, MDMA was rescheduled on 1 July 2023 as a schedule 8 substance (available on prescription) when used in the treatment of PTSD, while remaining a schedule 9 substance (prohibited) for all other uses.