Molly, also known as MDMA, is a popular party drug that can be detectable in the body for one to three days after ingestion. This synthetic drug is a powerful stimulant and hallucinogen mainly used at parties and for recreational purposes. As a schedule I controlled substance, molly has no medical use and a high potential for misuse. So, if you’re trying to get molly out of your system, keep reading to learn more about the process.
What’s Molly?
Ecstasy is a synthetic psychoactive drug with amphetamine and hallucinogenic-like properties. MDMA has a similar chemical structure to methamphetamines, which are highly addictive and cause brain damage. Initially, ecstasy was a diet aid pill; then, it was experimentally used during counseling sessions to remove people’s inhibitions.
Common street names for ecstasy include:
- Molly
- Adam
- XTC
- X
- Hug Drug
- Beans
- Love Drug
How Long Does Molly Stay in Your System?
Molly can be detected in your body in as little as 24 hours, and it can show in drug tests for up to three months after the last use. Ecstasy is rapidly absorbed into the intestines and can reach the bloodstream in as little as two hours after use. That’s why people experience the effects of MDMA for about three to four hours. Different drug testing methods have other detection windows. It all depends on how long the drug takes to be broken down into the body.
Ecstasy has a half-life of eight hours. After that, at least half of the drug has been cleared out of your system. Still, it takes at least 40 hours for 95% of the drug to leave your system. However, some research suggests that the drug stays in the body for up to six days. Even though most drug tests don’t measure metabolites.
Blood Tests: 1 to 2 Days
Ecstasy is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, and it’s first detectable in blood in as little as 12 minutes after it’s taken. Over time, the drug moves to the liver to be broken down. However, traces of molly can be found in blood drug tests after two days of use.
Urine Tests: 1 to 3 Days
After molly enters the bloodstream within the hour, it’s carried to the liver. In the liver is where MDMA will be broken down and excreted. However, it takes a healthy liver to start excreting molly through their urine for at least one to two hours. So, molly often shows in urine samples after three days since the last use.
Saliva Tests: 1 to 2 Days
While not a typical drug test for ecstasy, molly shows in saliva one to two days after ingestion. However, since molly is taken by mouth, it can appear in saliva tests in as little as 15 minutes after ingestion. Its concentration reaches its peak in about three hours.
Hair Tests: 3 Months
A typical drug test used in courts and more legal situations, molly is detectable in hair test results up to 90 days after the last use. Slight traces of the drug remain in hair follicles, which grow at a rate of 1 cm per month. Hair tests can help people figure out when someone’s last Molly dose was since hair that tests positive corresponds to ingestion time.
Factors That Affect How Long Molly Stays in the Body
Unlike other drugs, molly has many factors that affect how long it stays in the body. Beyond the common individual factors like age, body mass, and metabolism, ecstasy is a unique drug.
Chemical Composition
Molly or MDMA is often laced with other drugs and chemical compounds. Most people aren’t using pure molly, and often they don’t know exactly what’s in the drug. Ecstasy pills, for example, can be easily combined with other substances that affect how long molly stays in your system. This also affects how long a drug may be detected on a drug screening test.
Body Composition
Molly’s metabolites accumulate in fatty tissue, which is why people with higher body mass index (BMI) take longer to eliminate the drug from their body. For example, women often have a higher fat percentage than men, so it takes them longer to get molly out of their system.
How to Get Molly Out of Your System
It’s common for people to attempt home remedies to flush molly out of their system faster. However, there’s no such thing. Drinking water will not neutralize its effects or help you flush it out more quickly. If anything, molly increases water retention. Drinking excessive water can lead to water toxicity.
Some people also try exercising after taking molly. Doing so can lead to dehydration, which increases liquid consumption, and it can have negative consequences. Molly also elevates heart rate and blood pressure, things exercise does as well, so it can be risky to exercise while under the influence.
Overall, the “fun” effects of molly will naturally wear down after six hours. However, its adverse effects can linger for up to a week after the last dose.
How to Quit If You’re an Addict
It’s sporadic for someone to struggle with solely a Molly addiction. However, people who abuse ecstasy can become polysubstance addicts, which means they misuse multiple substances at once. They’re likely to mix alcohol and ecstasy to extend their highs and get more intense experiences.
If you’re struggling with a substance abuse disorder, these are no short-term solutions. Speaking with an addiction treatment specialist as soon as possible is the best way to start seeking help for addiction. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our drug addiction treatment options include:
- Detox Programs: While the withdrawing effects of ecstasy aren’t life-threatening, they can be quite uncomfortable. Medical detox can help people get the substance out of their system in a safe and comfortable environment that prepares them for long-term rehab treatment.
- Inpatient Programs: These offer a temptation-free environment to help people in recovery. In this case, people check into a living drug rehab facility, and they attend meetings and therapy sessions while remaining in a supervised environment.
- Outpatient Programs: For those with a mild addiction, an outpatient rehab program might be an option. In this case, they have a more flexible program that allows them to maintain their daily schedule and responsibilities like attending school, work, or caring for their family.
- Medication-Assisted Programs: While rare, some addicts might experience the worse withdrawal symptoms. To prevent these symptoms from harming them physically and psychologically, a physician might recommend specific prescription medications to help through the withdrawal process under a medically supervised program. MAT programs are also helpful for those struggling with mental health conditions that could make the withdrawal process even worse.
- Individual Therapy: Beyond the detox process, it’s paramount to tackle the addiction. Through individual therapy, people can understand what drives addictive behavior and see if there’s an underlying cause of their addiction.
- Group Therapy: Building a healthy and sober support team is a critical element of addiction recovery. By attending group meetings or 12-step programs, individuals can continue their sober life and continue to learn relapse prevention techniques, even months after detox.
Getting Help for Addiction
Addiction can be a sneaky disease that surprises most people. We all know a high-functioning addict in our lives that’s low-key struggling to stay healthy. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug abuse, seek help immediately.
Contact Lighthouse Recovery Institute today and speak with our addiction specialists to learn more about our comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs. Our addiction treatment center is ready to welcome you with open arms.
