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more people die from peanut allergies than from MDMA
picture: mallo

The risk of death from Ecstasy use is extremely low. Between 1988 and 1997 some 50-100 UK deaths have been connected to Ecstasy use. The current rate is 7 deaths per million users per year. More people die fishing or eating peanuts.

The US figures are much lower, only one death per million users, largely due to the enduring preference for warehouse or outdoor parties rather than hot packed-out nightclubs. There is also less of a booze culture amongst American kids. Most E-related deaths are related to alcohol-consumption and over-heating.

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overheating
The most common cause of Ecstacy -related death is overheating (hyperthermia). MDMA interfers with the body's ability to thermoregulate itself, allowing the body to overheat without discomfort and other warning signs, especially when dancing for hours in hot clubs.

In a worse case scenario, the body can reach extreme temperatures (41-42°C) - a severe heatstroke which causes unpredictable and often medically-untreatable problems, including unstoppable bleeding, liver and kidney failure and ultimately death. Not the nicest way to go.

Most fatalities occur amongst inexperienced users, who have not learnt how to read the body's response to Ecstasy.

Drinking alcohol heavily also disrupts your body temperature, making Ecstasy-related over-heating much easier. Avoid alcohol

All users should be familiar with safe dancing practices.

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drinking too much water
Inexperienced users who are worried about overheating and dehydration may over-compensate, drink huge amounts of water and suffer from 'water-poisoning' or hyponatraemia.

When excessive amounts of water or fluid are consumed, the sodium balance of the body is disturbed and the organs swell. This is very dangerous for the brain, which cannot expand inside the skull. It becomes compressed, putting pressure on the brain stem which controls heart and breathing functions. This can lead to coma and death. Leah Betts is a tragic case in point.

This can be avoided by drinking only 500ml of water per hour and eating salty snacks, or by drinking orange juice.

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