Ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) consumption, seizures, related offences, prices, dosage levels and deaths in the UK (1994-2003).
In the last decade, a global trend of escalating ecstasy (MDMA, MDA, MDEA, MBDB) use was observed. Mentions on medical death certificates, last year's ecstasy use, number of drug offenders, seizures, prices and dosage levels figures were used for this descriptive and correlational study. Figures (1994-2003) were taken from the UK General Mortality Registers, from the Home Office Statistical Bulletins, from the British Crime Survey and from those reported to both the National Crime Intelligence and Forensic Science Services. A total of 394 ecstasy deaths mentions were here identified from the UK; in 42% of cases ecstasy was the sole drug mentioned. Overall, number of fatalities showed a year-per-year increase and positively correlated with: prevalence of last year's use (p < 0.01); number of offenders (p < 0.01) and number of seizures (p < 0.01) but negatively correlated with ecstasy price (p < 0.05). Price negatively correlated with: prevalence of last year's use (p < 0.001) and number of seizures (p < 0.01); but positively correlated with average MDMA dosage per tablet (p < 0.01). MDA, MDEA and MBDB accounted for a significant proportion of tablets only up to 1997, but not afterwards. Increasing production with a concomitant decrease in ecstasy price may have facilitated an increase in consumption levels and this, in turn, may have determined an increase in number of ecstasy deaths mentions. Only medical death certificates and not coroners' reports at the end of their inquests were here analysed; no data were available in respect of other drugs use and toxicology results.
National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. fschifan@sgul.ac.uk
Fabrizio
F
Schifano
John
J
Corkery
Paolo
P
Deluca
Adenekan
A
Oyefeso
A Hamid
AH
Ghodse
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000191:economics; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom
D013287:Illicit Drugs; C051570:N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; C051800:3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine