title: Morbidity associated with MDMA (ecstasy) abuse: a survey of emergency department admissions.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Pinchas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moskovich
authors.forename: Beni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avrahami
authors.forename: Yedidia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bentur
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soffer
authors.forename: Kobi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peleg
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine