Dangers

Between 1988 and 1997, some 50-100 deaths have been connected to Ecstasy use in the UK. The current rate is 7 deaths per million users per year.

On the other hand, US figures are much lower, with only one death per million users. This is largely due to the enduring preference for warehouse or outdoor parties rather than hot packed-out nightclubs. Most Ecstasy-related deaths are related to alcohol-consumption and overheating, and there is less of a booze culture among American kids.

overheating

The most common cause of Ecstasy-related death is overheating (hyperthermia). MDMA interferes 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 worst-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.

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

Drinking alcohol heavily also disrupts your body temperature, making Ecstasy-related overheating much easier. If you decide to use Ecstasy, you should avoid ingesting alcohol at the same time, and get familiar with safe dancing practices.

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.

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