Meet Molly. Ecstasy has a new name for the 21^stcentury, and it isn’t as friendly as it sounds. The newest go-to party drug is a pure crystalline powder form of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-mthylamphtemine or MDMA.

Young people are flocking to the newest reincarnation of Ecstasy that has been packaged and rebranded for a new generation. MDMA produces a combination of energy and sociability making it popular at events, like large music festivals. What You Need to Know – the Dangers of Molly:

• Raised heart rate, blood pressure and interference with the body’s ability to regulate temperature
• MDMA metabolites interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize the drug causing high blood levels to accumulate in the body with additional doses
• Serotonin levels can deplete entirely causing confusion, depression and sleep problems
• Even more dangerous, frequent users could have permanent neurological damage, causing lasting mood and memory impairments

It is important to educate the younger generations on the dangers of taking not only prescription drugs, but synthetic drugs as well. In today’s society, synthetic, or designer drugs, are hard to regulate. They contain many contaminations and substitutions that are just as bad, if not worse, than the older drug versions. Molly isn’t cool or hip. It’s important to share the associated risks with our youth to educate them on the dangers of this “new” drug. For more information on Molly and its side effects, visit the Drugfree Newsroom here: http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/drugs/molly-what-you-need-to-know.