Morbidity associated with MDMA (ecstasy) abuse: a survey of emergency department admissions.
METHODS
We conducted a prospective, representative-sample nationwide study on morbidity related to 3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') as determined from admissions to 5 geographically representative emergency departments (EDs) and from data from the poison information center (PIC). MDMArelated ED admissions were analyzed over a 7-month period and the records of all PIC calls were reviewed.


RESULTS
There were 52 (age 15-44 years, 32 males) ecstasy-related ED admissions during the study period. Most (68%) admissions presented to the ED at night, 52% on weekends and 44% consumed the drug at clubs and parties. Forty-six percent of the patients took between 1/2 to 3 tablets and 29 patients (56%) had taken ecstasy before. Twenty-two subjects (42%) reported poly-drug use. Fifteen subjects (29%) required hospitalization, six of them (11%) to the intensive care unit. The most common manifestations were restlessness, agitation, disorientation, shaking, high blood pressure, headache and loss of consciousness. More serious complications were hyperthermia, hyponatremia, rhabdomyolysis, brain edema and coma.


CONCLUSIONS
The image of ecstasy as a safe party drug is spurious. The results of this study confirm that the drug bears real danger of physical harm and of behavioral, psychological and psychiatric disturbances.
Halpern
Pinchas
P
Department of Emergency Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. dr_halperin@tasmc.health.gov.il
Moskovich
Jenny
J
Avrahami
Beni
B
Bentur
Yedidia
Y
Soffer
Dror
D
Peleg
Kobi
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000506:poisoning*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine