Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
August 25, 2012
Fabrizio Schifano, John Corkery, A. Hamid Ghodse
113 citations
Mephedrone, a popular recreational stimulant, has been linked to fatalities in the United Kingdom. Analysis of 62 concluded inquest cases from the UK National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths database shows that typical victims were young (average age 28.8 years), male, and had a history of drug misuse. A notable 29% of deaths involved self-harm, with 11 of those 18 cases resulting from hanging. Mephedrone alone was identified at postmortem in 13% of cases. The findings suggest caution when using mephedrone, though the exact risks remain unclear.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 30, 2006
Fabrizio Schifano, John Corkery, Paolo Deluca et al.
96 citations
Over the last decade, the UK saw a yearly increase in ecstasy-related deaths, with 394 mentions identified from 1994 to 2003. In 42% of cases, ecstasy was the sole drug mentioned. The number of fatalities correlated positively with past-year use, number of drug offenders, and number of seizures, but negatively with ecstasy price. Price negatively correlated with use and seizures, and positively with average MDMA dosage per tablet. Other related drugs (MDA, MDEA, MBDB) appeared significantly only up to 1997. Increasing production and falling prices may have boosted consumption and deaths. Only medical death certificates were analyzed, not coroners' reports.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
September 19, 2003
Fabrizio Schifano, Adenekan Oyefeso, John Corkery et al.
93 citations
Between August 1996 and April 2002, 202 deaths related to ecstasy use occurred in England and Wales, with a steady annual increase. Most victims were young men: the male-to-female ratio was 4:1, and three-quarters were under age 29. In 17% of cases ecstasy was the only drug involved; the rest involved other substances, most often alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates. MDMA was detected in 86% of cases and MDA in 13%; MDEA and PMA caused single deaths. This is the largest sample of ecstasy-related deaths reported at the time. The authors propose possible explanations for the rising trend and a rationale for the observed polypharmacy combinations.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
July 1, 2013
John Corkery, Simon Elliott, Fabrizio Schifano et al.
52 citations
MDAI (5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane), a psychoactive substance sold as a 'legal high', is structurally similar to MDMA and shares its behavioral properties. Recreational use began around 2007 in Europe, increasing after 2009 in the UK. Calls to poisons services started in 2010, with few emergency department presentations. A review of recent literature, including grey literature, presents information on MDAI's toxicity, including the first three UK deaths involving MDAI use in 2011 and 2012. 'Serotonin syndrome' appears to be a possible factor in these fatalities. Documentation of further cases, including non-fatal overdoses, is vital to establish a scientific evidence base.