Death rates from ecstasy (MDMA, MDA) and polydrug use in England and Wales 1996–2002
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – September 19, 2003
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A troubling trend emerges from a study of 202 ecstasy-related deaths in England and Wales between 1996 and 2002, highlighting a steady annual increase in fatalities. Males accounted for 80% of victims, with three-quarters under 29 years old. Ecstasy was the sole cause in just 17% of cases; the majority involved polydrug use, primarily alcohol, cocaine, and opiates. Toxicology reports revealed that MDMA was present in 86% of these deaths, indicating a significant link between ecstasy and other substances in addiction and health outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract The present study reports on all deaths related to taking ecstasy (alone, or in a polydrug combination) occurring in England and Wales in the time frame August 1996–April 2002. Data presented here are based on all information recorded in the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np‐SAD) database. The np‐SAD regularly receives all information on drug related deaths in addicts and non addicts from coroners. A total of 202 ecstasy‐related fatalities occurred in the chosen time‐frame, showing a steady increase in the number of deaths each year. The ratio male:female was 4:1 and 3 of 4 victims were younger than 29. In 17% of cases ecstasy was the sole drug implicated in death and in the remaining cases a number of other drugs (mostly alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and opiates) have been found. According to toxicology results, MDMA accounted for 86% of cases and MDA for 13% of cases; single deaths were associated with MDEA and PMA. This is the largest sample of ecstasy related deaths so far; possible explanations are given for the observed steady increase in ecstasy‐related deaths and a tentative ‘rationale’ for this polypharmacy combination is then proposed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.