Beware of Molly – She’s Not a Friend
As parents, we know kids will experiment and flex their independence but times are different from when we were teens. The availability and access to more potent and lethal substances is much more prevalent. Not to mention the whole psychosocial effects of good ol’ peer pressure. One of the latest trends is a new drug called Molly. Alcohol and pot are no longer the bad guys for parents. Now it’s a sudden increase in designer drugs that are cheap, easy to obtain, conceal and have cryptic or cutesy names like Molly, that may avert parents from realizing what their kids are up to.
Back to Molly – a purified form of Ecstasy, popular at clubs, raves, parties and concerts. It’s an amphetamine or “upper” that causes feelings of euphoria and increased energy and alertness. It makes the club experience more powerful, intensifies feelings of touch and sound. Along with this we can thank some of today’s biggest Pop artists (Rhianna, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and of course, Miley Cyrus) for glorifying Molly in song.
The problem is, it’s a drug, and unlike it’s innocent sounding name it may not be as pure as implied. This drug has been mixed with other drugs and chemicals from PCP, cocaine, cough syrup ingredients and caffeine. So the added danger is the concept that this is a party drug synonymous with social drinking but you don’t know exactly what you’re getting or how any one person will react. In fact, 4 recent Molly-Related Deaths have brought this party gal to the limelight. You just can’t predict how any one person will react to any drug, especially if you’re not sure what’s in it. Other side effects of Molly include feeling sick, dizzy and agitated. These immediate effects can last 3-6 hours. However, the phrase “Suicide Tuesdays” was dubbed due to the weeklong after effects of sadness, depression, anxiety and short-term memory loss. The long-term effects are not yet known.
Yes, kids will be kids but there’s a fine line between being an overbearing, overly protective parent and being too trusting. Isn’t it our jobs to keep tabs on our kids until they are supposedly mature enough to make adult decisions on their own? By initiating conversations that are open and candid about these issues can only help. Staying “in the know” about the latest drug trends may be challenging but important to demonstrate our savvy. Maybe, just maybe, our kids will think twice about trying to pull the wool over our eyes and maybe, by imparting more knowledge to them (about drug dangers) they will be empowered to make wiser choices when faced with these pressures.
