Increase in Molly use worries NCDA

Use of the party drug Molly is on the rise among Jamaican adults and teenagers, according to a study conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

At a joint press conference yesterday held by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Education and Youth, and Ministry of National Security (Narcotics Division) Uki Atkinson of the NCDA admitted that, unfortunately, Molly is emerging as the drug of choice among participants in a rapid situation assessment done between May 2 and 26. It showed that in addition to vaping and the consumption of edibles, Molly was now among the popular drugs abused, according to the results of 13 focus group assessments conducted in 13 secondary schools [all parishes except St Thomas] among 160 student between grades 8-10. Twewnty guidance counsellors were also interviewed.

"With Molly, it is one of the party drugs that has become more popular in recent times. We did not typically have a popping culture nor did we have an injection drug use culture but things are changing and, therefore, it is important that we stay on top of things and try to prevent them and create interventions that are necessary. Molly acts as a trigger which controls mood, aggression and sexual activity, sleep, feelings of pain, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. These things came out in the focus groups," Atkinson disclosed.

The rapid assessment intervention was done to not only determine students' and guidance counsellors' perspectives on popular substances but also changes in patterns of use, challenges faced by students and recommendations for intervention. While none of the students admitted taking the party drug, they were aware of Molly or knew someone who had taken or sold the product.

"You can eat it one whole and swallow it ... even break up that in a juice then drink it, all them food them can crush it into," a student from St Mary said.

A St Andrew student said the party drug is popular in their community and persons sometimes infused it with ganja whenever they are building their spliff.

The teenagers said there was access to Molly and the drug can be purchased even on the roadside. Vaping [tobacco and cannabis] and edibles [cannabis infused food] were also cited as the current popular substances used by Jamaican adolescents.

Among the recommendations to address the issues facing secondary students are conducting public education on Molly, addressing teacher/guidance counsellor burnout, update national school policy on substance abuse and scaling up parenting initiatives at the community level.

Researchers and law enforcement agents in several countries have found that much of the ecstasy/Molly sold contains other harmful and possibly deadly drugs such as bath salts, dextromethorphan (which is found in some cough syrups) PCP or cocaine.