Drug 'Molly' Facts: The Dangers of MDMA And Why Its Use Is Defining Popular Culture

The party drug "Molly" has been making headlines, and many are asking what is MDMA and what makes the pills attractive to young adults.

"Molly" is the nickname for illegal drug MDMA, an acronym for its chemical name 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH).

The drug is typically taken by mouth, lasts anywhere from 3 to 6 hours and induces powerful psychedelic reactions.  However, "Molly" also has toxic potential side effects such as "seizures, elevated blood pressure, as well as elevated body temperatures (hyperthermia) which can be deadly," Forbes reports.

"[MDMA] acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences," the NIH wrote on their official website.  "MDMA can affect the brain by altering the activity of chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, which enable nerve cells in the brain to communicate with one another."

"Molly" creates a feeling of euphoria in the user, along with "emotional warmth and empathy toward others," The New York Daily News reports.  The feeling may explain why the drug is popular amongst the party scene. 

The most recent news about the drug came after two college students died from alleged "Molly" overdoses at the Electric Zoo music festival on Aug. 31. Four other concertgoers were rushed to the hospital under suspicion of overdosing on Molly, according to the Daily News.

The overdoses has frustrated fans of the Electric Zoo festival and electronic dance music (EDM), USA Today reports.   EDM has become synonymous with MDMA use, developing a stereotype that is defining the culture.

"Drug use is now being associated with this culture, which is upsetting," Rebecca Persaud, 21, a senior at Northeastern University, told USA Today.  "You have people like me and my friends who genuinely love the beats and want to hear it come to life at these concerts."

With rappers like Jay Z and Kanye West mentioning the drug in their lyrics, and singers like Miley Cyrus and Madonna referencing "Molly," the drug craze has spread, and it's taken the lives of too young adults unaware of the dangers.

What do you think about the use of "Molly?" Should the government intervene due to the rising popularity of the drug?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.