Commish sounds party drugs warning - Parents urged to look out for Molly use as summer heats up

With schools on break and more children at home, the police are urging parents and guardians to be on the lookout for drug use among their kids.

Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson, speaking during the Jamaica Constabulary Force's monthly press briefing held yesterday, said young people may be tempted to recreational drugs such as methylenedioxy methamphetamine, commonly known as 'Molly' and ecstasy, as party going activities heat up for the summer.

"We are seeing a growing trend involving the sale and use of recreational drugs Molly or ecstasy at these events. We urge parents to discourage the use of these drugs whilst we address the criminal aspects of this matter," Anderson said.

The use of Molly has become popular on the party scene locally. A study by the National Council on Drugs Abuse found that molly pills, vaping, and edibles are the main drugs being abused by Jamaican secondary school students.

Further, the study noted that these drugs are easily accessible to students.

The exercise was conducted by the council in May 2022 across 13 parishes in 13 high schools among 160 students in grades eight to 10 via focus group interviews. Twenty guidance counsellors were also involved in the exercise. Research analyst at the council, Uki Atkinson, at the time noted that in the past, ganja, alcohol and tobacco were the popular drugs among students.

She asserted that new psychoactive substances are becoming much more popular and accessible around the world, coupled with increased media exposure.

While noting that Molly is a party drug that has recently gained popularity in Jamaica, Atkinson said, "We did not typically have a pill-popping culture nor do we typically have an injection drug use culture but things are changing and therefore it is incumbent on us to stay on top of these things and try to prevent them and create interventions that are necessary at this time."

Last October, the Government signalled that Jamaica's laws are to be updated to combat the prevalence of 'Molly' in the society.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at the time that the move is to help cauterise the problem and hold perpetrators accountable.