Morbidity associated with MDMA (ecstasy) abuse: A survey of emergency department admissions
Human & Experimental Toxicology – May 20, 2010
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ecstasy, often perceived as a harmless party drug, poses significant health risks. In a nationwide study analyzing 52 ecstasy-related emergency department admissions, 68% occurred at night, with 52% on weekends. Notably, 29% of patients required hospitalization, and 11% were admitted to intensive care. Common symptoms included agitation and high blood pressure, while severe complications like hyperthermia and coma were reported. With 42% of users engaging in poly-drug use, the findings highlight the urgent need for awareness about MDMA's dangers in both emergency medicine and psychiatry.
Abstract
Methods: We conducted a prospective, representative-sample nationwide study on morbidity related to 3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) as determined from admissions to 5 geographically representative emergency departments (EDs) and from data from the poison information center (PIC). MDMArelated ED admissions were analyzed over a 7-month period and the records of all PIC calls were reviewed. Results: There were 52 (age 15—44 years, 32 males) ecstasy-related ED admissions during the study period. Most (68%) admissions presented to the ED at night, 52% on weekends and 44% consumed the drug at clubs and parties. Forty-six percent of the patients took between 1/2 to 3 tablets and 29 patients (56%) had taken ecstasy before. Twenty-two subjects (42%) reported poly-drug use. Fifteen subjects (29%) required hospitalization, six of them (11%) to the intensive care unit. The most common manifestations were restlessness, agitation, disorientation, shaking, high blood pressure, headache and loss of consciousness. More serious complications were hyperthermia, hyponatremia, rhabdomyolysis, brain edema and coma. Conclusion: The image of ecstasy as a safe party drug is spurious. The results of this study confirm that the drug bears real danger of physical harm and of behavioral, psychological and psychiatric disturbances.