Ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) consumption, seizures, related offences, prices, dosage levels and deaths in the UK (1994–2003)
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 30, 2006
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A concerning trend revealed 394 ecstasy (MDMA) related deaths in the UK between 1994-2003, with 42% mentioning ecstasy as the sole drug. Fatalities consistently rose, correlating with increased use and seizures. Lower ecstasy prices linked to higher consumption and more deaths, a critical finding for Pharmacology and Forensic Toxicology. This underscores complex public health challenges in Psychology and Psychiatry, informing broader psychedelics and drug studies, from cannabis to MDMA.
Abstract
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.