“I know drugs can have different names but why is MDMA called ‘Molly’? It just seems like a strange name for a drug.”
Over the years, ecstasy has been the most commonly used street term for the chemical MDMA. Sold as a pill or tablet, capsule (or ‘cap’), powder and as crystals, the strength of MDMA can vary enormously, no matter what the form. In recent years, MDMA powder has become one of the more commonly used forms of the drug and, to some extent, has gained a reputation to be stronger or purer, particularly when compared to pills.
Since the early 2000s, ‘Molly’ has been a street name for the powder form of MDMA – seemingly short for ‘molecule’ or ‘molecular’. It was probably given this name to differentiate the product from the pills available at that time. Although the quality of this drug is always highly variable, for a variety of reasons, MDMA pills were particularly poor quality and were likely to contain little, if any, MDMA or even completely different substances.
Highlighting features and perceived benefits of a product to separate it from competitors, is a common marketing technique used by those who sell illegal drugs. It seems that this is what occurred in the MDMA market.
Is MDMA powder a guarantee of a premium form of the drug? No, of course not. Pills, caps, powder or crystals can all contain variable amounts of MDMA, no MDMA or something completely different and potentially even more harmful. Most importantly, compared to other forms, powder can easily be mixed with other substances at any point of the supply chain.
No matter what form it comes in, MDMA can cause harm and, in extreme cases, death. Although MDMA-related deaths are rare they do happen. It’s important to remember that if you choose to use any illicit drug, you never really know what you’re taking and what effect you’re going to get.
First published: August 2024
