Ecstasy, or MDMA, is more deadly to healthy young
adults than other illegal stimulants, British data show.
(Photo: DoJ)
Jan. 29--British researchers who reviewed illegal stimulant deaths in the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2007 discovered that ecstasy, by itself, killed almost as many users as did amphetamines and methamphetamines combined.
The researchers, who published their findings in today's issue of the journal Neuropsychobiology, also determined that people who died from ecstasy overdoses were more likely to be younger than 30, to have no chronic health problems, and to not have an extensive history of drug use than were people who died from overdoses of other stimulants.
Study leader Fabrizio Schifano told Reuters the data his team collected indicate that while "ecstasy and amphetamines are very similar ... ecstasy does seem to show an intrinsic toxicity that is higher than that of amphetamines."
Taking ecstasy--which is known chemically as 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA--produces euphoria, hypersensitivity and hyperactivity. It also raises users' heart rate and blood pressure and, in large doses, can produce symptoms of serotonin poisoning. Long-term use can cause addiction, anxiety, depression, insomnia and mental confusion. People who overdose on the drug can die from heart attacks, strokes and complications of hyperthermia and dehydration.
The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that 5 of the 1,828 fatal illegal drug overdoses reported in the state between 2004 and 2006 resulted from the use of ecstasy. The OCME noted that each of the ecstasy fatalities occurred in people younger than 34 years of age and that one occurred in the Tidewater region.
Comments
How come only 5 people died from MDMA in a 2 year period in Virginia yet the title of the article says Virginians not immune, tazers in the hands of police kill 10x more people than MDMA.
Approximately 90% of ALL Ecstasy related deaths are indirect deaths (Such as dehydration and overheating, which is easily avoided by water consumption and taking short rests from physical activity) or fatal mixtures with other drugs (including taking pills intentionally manufactured with other drugs to increase the drug dealers profits). The other 10% are actual overdoses (I.E. taking too much of the pure, unadulterated chemical). There has NEVER been a case of a direct death caused by MDMA taken in it's pure form in the amount needed for a single dose.....This does not mean that Ecstasy is harmless, it has very real dangers. However, with the use of pill testing kits(scraping small amounts off of a pill in order to determine what IS actually in it), and better education on how to use this substance in a safe manner.....almost all of the dangers associated with this drug can be avoided.
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