Teenage Use of Ecstasy Doubles Over 6 Year Span
In the data from those six years, according to the administration, young adults and adolescents presenting at emergency departments after using 3,4-methylenedioxy-
The drug already has known adverse effects. A small study on heavy use of ecstasy shows that using 40 or more pills a year was associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, which can have adverse effects on memory. Ecstasy, MDMA, and Molly have also all been associated with elevated body temperature, high blood pressure, heart and kidney failure, anxiety, and confusion.
Party-goers often use the drug, which can be cut with other chemicals like caffeine or methamphetamine, because it gives them feelings of euphoria and increased energy. Ecstasy and MDMA effect the level of serotonin released in the brain, and overuse has been linked to sleep disorders and chronic anxiety.
MDMA and Ecstasy first became the drug of choice for ravers at underground nightclubs in the early 1990s. Many people began to question the purity of Ecstasy, causing people to seek a purer form of the drug. Molly became the go-to drug because of its purity. The street name “molly” has been in use for about a decade. Prior to the name “molly”, the drug users referred to the drug as simply MDMA. The name “molly” classifies a variety of legal substances with similar chemical structures.
In 2011, a DEA Investigation of a large-scale drug trafficking ring turned over 25 kilograms of molly that is worth an estimated $525,000. The bust occurred in Syracuse, New York, a college town. Twenty people faced charges in connection with the bust.
“Ecstasy is a street drug that can include other substances that can render it even more potentially harmful,” noted Peter Delany, PhD, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, in a statement.
“This should be a wake-up call to everyone, but the problem is much bigger than what the data show,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “These are only the cases that roll into the emergency rooms. It’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“When it was in a finished pill, it was difficult to tamper with,” he said. “But now that it comes in a powder form, you might have an unscrupulous dealer who cuts it with speed or some other substance.”
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Narcotics Drug Charges, Including Ecstasy, Heroin, and Prescription Drugs
The narcotics drug charges lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, providing aggressive representation grounded in our years of experience building and interpreting the laws of South Carolina. If you or a loved one is facing drug charges relating to ecstasy, marijuana or any other drug, you need to contact a South Carolina drug crimes lawyer at the Strom Law Firm today. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800