“Molly” is a synthetic drug that has been around for years, but its name has evolved and its components altered.
Police in the Halifax area are warning students about experimenting with Molly, which they say could have deadly consequences.
“Molly is a slang term for a cocktail of synthetic drugs,” said RCMP Sgt. Keith MacKinnon, while talking to a group of Halifax-area junior high students about the dangers of drugs.
“There’s not one addict that has said to me ‘boy, am I ever glad I started doing drugs.’”
MacKinnon says Molly has become increasingly popular in the Maritimes and has even been endorsed by some celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus, who references the drug in her song “We Can’t Stop.”
According to MacKinnon, many people who use Molly think they are taking MDMA or ecstasy.
“But we’ve found that different locales across Canada, it can be a lot of different drugs, like methylone, MAPP, and even bath salts mixed in,” he says.
Cameron Illingworth, an 18-year-old university student, admits some of his friends have used the drug.
“The ingredients, I would not be sure, at all. White powder is all I know,” says Illingworth.
“You enjoy your experiences more, basically, like marijuana. It’s an enhancement, so your senses are more in tune I guess.”
MacKinnon says Molly started popping up on Maritime streets about a year ago and people of all ages, from university students to children as young as 12, are using the drug.
“The age seems to be coming down further and further as the years progress.”
But MacKinnon says people who use Molly likely aren’t aware of the drug’s negative side effects, such as increased heart rate, panic attacks, restlessness and, in some cases, depression and even psychosis.
“These drugs can have catastrophic effects on your body and unfortunately can result in death if you get a bad batch.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Alyse Hand
