Trends in MDMA‐related mortality across four countries
Addiction March 19, 2021 Amanda Roxburgh, Bülent Şam, Pirkko Kriikku et al. 27 citations
Between 2011 and 2017, MDMA-related death rates increased in Australia, Finland, Portugal, and Turkey, coinciding with higher MDMA purity and availability. Across 1,400 deaths in Turkey, 507 in Australia, 100 in Finland, and 45 in Portugal, most decedents were young males (81–94% male; median age 24–27.5 years). Drug toxicity was the primary cause in Australia (61%), Finland (70%), and Turkey (60%), while other causes dominated in Portugal (56%). Only 13–25% of deaths were due to MDMA alone; these had significantly higher blood MDMA concentrations than multiple-drug toxicity deaths. Other drugs commonly detected included stimulants and alcohol in Australia and Finland, benzodiazepines and opioids in Finland, and synthetic cannabinoids and cannabis in Turkey.