What do the House of Blues, the NYC Electronic Zoo Music Festival, distortions of sensory and time perception, “E”, and long-lasting confusion have in common? In one way or another, they’re all are connected with “Molly” (short for “molecule”), a slang term for MDMA – which is actually an acronym for a man-made drug called methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. “E” is short for the drug ecstasy, a synonym for “Molly” and sensory distortions and long-lasting confusion are the result of consuming it along with many other dangerous side effects.

You may have heard on the news that the NYC Electronic Zoo Music Festival that took place over Labor Day weekend cancelled the last day of performances due to two deaths at the concert that were caused by ingesting “Molly”. Four other concertgoers remain in critical condition. Less than one week before, a young woman died at the House of Blues (in Boston) from, you guessed it, “Molly”.

So why is a drug that was initially introduced in the 70’s to help with psychotherapy now labeled as a Schedule I substance? The Federal Food and Drug Administration recognized that MDMA doesn’t have any medical benefits, but potentially very dangerous side effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, MDMA can have the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. Often users complain of blurred vision, muscle tension, nausea, faintness, chills, and sweating. High doses of MDMA upset the body’s ability to control temperature. The result can be damage to important organs such as the kidneys and/or liver and heart, which can be deadly.

One dose of MDMA lasts about 3-6 hours, while side-effects can last a lifetime. To me it’s a “no brainer”. Just say no! For more information, go to teens.drugabuse.gov.

-Georgia