title: Ecstasy and suicide.
abstract: Deaths due to the ring-derivative amphetamines are not common and are usually accidental involving dehydration and hyperthermia. Suicides from 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and related ring-derivative amphetamines overdose are rare. A 15-year-old female who had a history of depression and previous suicide attempts was found dead with a suicide note. Toxicology demonstrated lethal serum concentrations of MDMA (9.3 mg/L), with 34 mg/kg of MDMA in the liver, 2.4 mg/L in the urine, and 530 mg/kg in the stomach. The cause of death was MDMA toxicity, the manner suicide. While MDMA may be detected in victims in other drug-related or traumatic deaths, it is only rarely used in isolation in suicide, with a predominance in the 21- to 25-year-old range. Despite the rarity of such events, the possibility of a nonaccidental manner of death should be considered when high levels of MDMA and associated amphetamines are found at autopsy.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Tarini
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D013270:Stomach / Q000737:chemistry; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine