It’s that time of year when college students are slammed with finals and, apart from writing that 10-page paper, summer break is the only thing on their minds.
The typical college student’s summer break entails lots of sleep and partying. With finals coming to a close and festival season in full effect, it seems as though summer is the ideal time to experiment with drugs.
Smoking weed and drinking alcohol is pretty much the norm, but another drug is growing in popularity: Molly, which is chemically known as MDMA. According to a study by the Journal of Adolescent Health, MDMA use amongst college students has rapidly increased in the last decade.
Molly is a staple of rave culture, but these days students are taking the psychoactive drug much more commonly, whether they’re at a frat party or a music festival.
The appeal of Molly is in the high, of course. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists Molly’s effects as an enhanced sense of well-being, increased extroversion, emotional warmth and extreme euphoria.
Given the effects, young college students are easily attracted to the drug; however, Molly can lead to some negative consequences if not taken properly. I’m not promoting drug use, but I am promoting safe drug use for those who will do it anyway because let’s be real: College students are going to party regardless of what anyone says.
If you’re a newbie to Molly, follow these guidelines to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Test Your Drugs
Unless you’re the one making the MDMA capsules yourself, you must test your drugs before you consume them, so you know exactly what it is you’re taking. I don’t care if you got the Molly from your best friend or from a dude who swears he has the good stuff: Test your drugs no matter what.
Unfortunately, most of the Molly you’ll find these days is cut with other drugs, which means that you might not even be taking MDMA at all. Instead, you could be taking a capsule laced with cocaine, bath salts, heroin or meth.
In recent years, Molly has gotten a bad rep because of incidents of users being hospitalized after taking the drug. However, MDMA in itself is not a dangerous substance; it’s when you take a capsule of random unknown drugs that it becomes threatening.
According to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, “Pure MDMA has been proven sufficiently safe for human consumption when taken a limited number of times in moderate doses.”
That being said, MDMA test kits are inexpensive, easy to find and completely legal. One of the most credible test kits is called the Marquis Reagent MDMA test kit and goes for only $20. I mean, I know you’re a broke college student, but you can afford it. It’s cheaper than the medical bill you’ll get if you end up in the hospital for spazzing out on bath salts that you didn’t even intend on taking.
The test kit will come with directions of course, but to get a visual, watch this informational YouTube video.
So, this means that if you’re at Coachella or whatever given event, you can’t just go swallowing any pill that a stranger sells to you. It does take a bit of extra effort and planning to test your Molly, but if it means avoiding being hospitalized or potentially dying, then it’s well worth it.
Take the Right Dose
Everybody’s body is different, which calls for different dosages of MDMA. RollSafe.org, an MDMA education site, has provided users with the general guideline for MDMA dosage, which is your weight in kg + 50 = total dosage in mg.
High doses of MDMA in lab animals have been shown to be neurotoxic; however, the neurotoxicity effect on humans is unknown. Whether it is neurotoxic or not, taking too much Molly can result in an uncomfortable trip, also known as a bad roll. Apart from high doses, frequent use of MDMA can also be detrimental to both physical and mental health.
When your body is on MDMA, excessive serotonin is being released, which means when you’re not rolling, your body is pretty much depleted of its serotonin. Rolling too frequently can result in depression, fatigue and drug dependence.
MDMA is not meant to be taken every or even every other weekend. It is very much a once-in-awhile type of drug. RollSafe.org’s safety guide to MDMA recommends having at least five weeks in between each roll.
Know the Effects
Now that you’ve tested your Molly and figured out your dose, it’s time to understand the effects before actually being high. Psyched Substance, a YouTube channel based on the study of different drugs, posted a video explaining what MDMA feels like. Watch it to get a visual representation before you decide that you want to experience it.
Rolling on Molly basically feels like an overwhelming wave of intense happiness hitting you in the face. You’ll also get the urge to touch things and be touched, in the least inappropriate way. Soft objects like blankets will feel particularly sensational, and if you’ve ever been to a rave, you might have even seen people giving each other shoulder massages because it feels that good.
When it comes to your connection with other people, it’ll be easy to open to other and feel at ease with being yourself. Users have reported stronger bonds between friendships and romantic relationships because of the use of MDMA. All in all, take Molly, and you’ll feel like everything is right in the world, for the time being.
Know the Side Effects
“Popped a Molly, I’m sweating” is not only a meme, but it’s also 100 percent true. When your body is on MDMA, it affects the part of the brain that helps regulate body temperature called the hypothalamus, which results in your body getting overheated, and your body will sweat in an attempt to cool itself off.
To assist with regulating your temperature, it is critical that you stay hydrated. If you take anything away from this article, it should be to drink plenty of water while rolling. Another very common reaction to rolling is jaw clenching or teeth grinding. Most users will have a pack of gum handy to help with this.
Finally, the third most common side effect of Molly is the lack of appetite you might experience during both the roll and the come-down.
If you are hesitant about trying Molly for any reason, then don’t. These tips are for those who are willing to take the necessary precautions before using MDMA. After all, being in a college atmosphere, safety is definitely a number one priority. All of that being said, happy rolling!
