Review of deaths related to taking ecstasy, England and Wales, 1997-2000

Schifano, Fabrizio; Oyefeso, Adenekan; Webb, Lucy; Pollard, Mike; Corkery, John; Ghodse, A. Hamid

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7380.80

Cited by 68 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…In one instance, the possibility of Excited Delirium was recorded. Although the present report comments on only 60 cases, the suicide rates in our other UK studies of stimulant-related fatalities were quantitatively less significant, being in the range of 3-6%: amphetamine-type drugs ; MDMA/ecstasy Schifano et al, 2003b); cocaine (Schifano & Corkery, 2008). The rate for khat-related fatalities was about 31% (sample size = 13) .…”

Section: User Profilementioning

confidence: 82%

Mephedrone-Related Fatalities in the United Kingdom: Contextual, Clinical and Practical Issues

Corkery¹,

Schifano²,

Ghodse³

2012

Pharmacology

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Section: User Profilementioning

confidence: 82%

Mephedrone-Related Fatalities in the United Kingdom: Contextual, Clinical and Practical Issues

Corkery¹,

Schifano²,

Ghodse³

2012

Pharmacology

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“…The total figures for each constituent country were added together to obtain UK figures. Different from here, previous UK ecstasy-related fatalities studies (Schifano et al, 2003a;Schifano et al, 2003b) analysed figures collected taking into account the npSAD (Ghodse et al, 2004) definition of ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA)-related deaths, with coroners' reports at the end of their inquests, and not death certificates, being analysed. Drug-related deaths using the standard definition employed by the Office of National Statistics (Griffiths, 2004) were as follows: ICD-10 codes F11-F16, F18, F19, X40-X44, X60-64, X85 and Y10-Y14.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The risk of 'overdose' with ecstasy has been described in the UK since the early 1990s (Henry et al, 1992). In England and Wales, a steady and constant increase of ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA)-related fatalities has been observed in the time frame August 1996-April 2002, when a total of 202 related deaths were recorded (Schifano et al, 2003a). A consistent decrease in the purchase costs of ecstasy tablets had been hypothesized, but not demonstrated, to be one of the significant factors for this increase in fatalities (Schifano, 2004).…”

Section: Sage Journal -Jop P R O O F O N L Ymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) consumption, seizures, related offences, prices, dosage levels and deaths in the UK (1994–2003)

Schifano¹,

Corkery

Deluca

et al. 2006

J Psychopharmacol

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In the last decade, a global trend of escalating ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) use was observed. Mentions on medical death certificates, last year's ecstasy use, number of drug offenders, seizures, prices and dosage levels figures were used for this descriptive and correlational study. Figures (1994ñ2003) were taken from the UK General Mortality Registers, from the Home Office Statistical Bulletins, from the British Crime Survey and from those reported to both the National Crime Intelligence and Forensic Science Services. A total of 394 ecstasy deaths mentions were here identified from the UK; in 42% of cases ecstasy was the sole drug mentioned. Overall, number of fatalities showed a year-peryear increase and positively correlated with: prevalence of last year's use ( p<0.01); number of offenders ( p<0.01) and number of seizures ( p<0.01) but negatively correlated with ecstasy price ( p<0.05). Price negatively correlated with: prevalence of last year's use ( p<0.001) and number of seizures ( p<0.01); but positively correlated with average MDMA dosage per tablet ( p<0.01). MDA, MDEA and MBDB accounted for a significant proportion of tablets only up to 1997, but not afterwards. Increasing production with a concomitant decrease in ecstasy price may have facilitated an increase in consumption levels and this, in turn, may have determined an increase in number of ecstasy deaths mentions. Only medical death certificates and not coroners' reports at the end of their inquests were here analysed; no data were available in respect of other drugs use and toxicology results.

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“…Of these drugs, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetaime (MDMA, 'ecstasy') is the most popular and has received particular attention because, on rare occasions, its use has led to fatalities (Schifano et al, 2003;Gowing et al, 2002), and because, in animals, it has been shown to have the potential to lead to a persistent loss of brain serotonin (5-HT) axonal markers (Steele et al, 1994;Ricaurte et al, 2000;Green et al, 2003). 'Ecstasy' is normally taken as a pill and in the strictest sense only contains MDMA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma Drug Concentrations and Physiological Measures in ‘Dance Party’ Participants

Irvine

Keane

Felgate

et al. 2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

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The increasing use of (7) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the setting of large dance parties ('raves') and clubs has been the source of some concern, because of potential acute adverse events, and because animal studies suggest that MDMA has the potential to damage brain serotonin (5-HT) neurons. However, it is not yet known whether MDMA, as used in the setting of dance parties, leads to plasma levels of MDMA that are associated with toxicity to 5-HT neurons in animals. The present study sought to address this question. Plasma MDMA concentrations, vital signs, and a variety of blood and urine measures were obtained prior to, and hours after, individuals attended a dance party. After the dance party, subjects were without clinical complaints, had measurable amounts of residual MDMA in plasma, and nearly half of the subjects also tested positive for methamphetamine, another amphetamine analog that has been shown to have 5-HT neurotoxic potential in animals. Plasma concentrations of MDMA did not correlate with self-reported use of 'ecstasy' and, in some subjects, overlapped with those that have been associated with 5-HT neurotoxicity in non-human primates. Additional subjects were likely to have had similar concentrations while at the dance party, when one considers the reported time of drug ingestion and the plasma half-life of MDMA in humans. Hematological and biochemical analyses were generally unremarkable. Moderate increases in blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature were observed in the subjects with the highest MDMA plasma concentrations. These findings are consistent with epidemiological findings that most people who use MDMA at dance parties do not develop serious clinical complications, and suggest that some of these individuals may be at risk for developing MDMA-induced toxicity to brain serotonin neurons.

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Review of deaths related to taking ecstasy, England and Wales, 1997-2000

Abstract: Original article can be found at: http://www.bmj.com/archive/--Copyright BMJ Publishing Group Ltd DOI : 10.1136/bmj.326.7380.8

Cited by 68 publications

References 2 publications

Mephedrone-Related Fatalities in the United Kingdom: Contextual, Clinical and Practical Issues

Mephedrone-Related Fatalities in the United Kingdom: Contextual, Clinical and Practical Issues

Ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) consumption, seizures, related offences, prices, dosage levels and deaths in the UK (1994–2003)

Plasma Drug Concentrations and Physiological Measures in ‘Dance Party’ Participants

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