Education and awareness is first step to avoiding tragedies
It was not all fun and games at Veld this year at Downsview park in Toronto. The electronic music festival that took place at the start of August saw thousands of people dance the weekend away while to DJs played and mixed all the hottest electronic dance music (EDM).
It was a positive experience for many, though this year’s festival was the scene of two tragic deaths and the hospitalization of an additional 13 Veld attendees. A 20-year-old woman from Toronto died at the festival after taking methylene-dioxy-meth-amphetamine, also known as MDMA. It was reported she had told emergency service personnel before she lost consciousness that she had taken six hits of the party drug commonly referred to as “Molly.” A 22-year-old man also died at the festival after consuming the drug.
These deaths are among a rising number of Molly related occurrences throughout the continent. People are dying after taking the drug, which includes Ecstasy as it’s main compound.
In recent years, the consumption of Molly has really taken off in the electronic music and club scene. Pop culture has increased the exposure of Molly and has surely added to the widespread use of this drug. Unfortunately, as Molly continues to rise in popularity and the quantity of the drug demanded by users increases, the quality of Molly reaching the user has gone down.
These days, it is often mixed with potentially harmful substances, such as the drug “speed” or various manufactured chemicals that are designed to mimic the effects of MDMA. When someone buys Molly, there is really no telling what is in the powder or pills that they buy.
When people take Molly, they claim to have feelings of euphoria and a sense of connectedness with those around them, as well as an increased desire for dancing. Side effects of Molly however, can vary due to the impure nature of the drug often including: near excessive dehydration, clenching of the jaws (which can result in a sore jaw for days), a rise in body temperature, and adverse mental health effects which may take a while to wear off. The risks are made greater when the user consumes high dosages of the drug or when Molly is mixed with other drugs, including alcohol.
Individuals that fall victim to this drug often do so after dancing for hours on end without taking breaks or ensuring they are hydrated. The constant movement and relentless dancing, coupled with the increase in body temperature from the drug, can lead to a condition called hyperthermia. This when the body becomes too hot and is no longer able to properly regulate its temperature. The euphoric feelings brought on by the drug can cause the user to fail to notice that they are over-exerting themselves or overheating.
Another issue with the use of MDMA is the inadequate consumption of water. People on Molly can neglect to hydrate themselves sufficiently and this can lead to complications. Less known than the risk of dehydration is the risk of over-hydration. While the body requires a certain amount of water to maintain regular function, an excess of water can dilute electrolytes and salts in the body to dangerous levels. This condition is called hyponatremia, and leads to a number of problems, and ultimately death, if untreated. People on MDMA who consume too much water are at a higher risk for hyponatremia.
While the role of Molly in controversial deaths and accidents has yet to be officially determined, the dangers of participating in this new party ritual are definitely clear. MDMA is among the many unfamiliar things exposed of to university students, and as such, education is key in attempts to understand these dangers.