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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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