poledriver
Bluelighter
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Potent ecstasy sparks concerns for young Australians
Increasing levels of MDMA in ecstasy tablets could prove fatal for young Australians, drug researchers warn.
The Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia (DARTA) says there has been a dramatic increase in the circulation of tablets containing high-levels of MDMA in recent months.
Ecstasy is the street name for a range of drugs, including or similar in chemical structure to MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
"The issue that we're seeing, in Europe particularly at the moment, is an increase in the prevalence of MDMA," said Paul Dillon, the founder and director of DARTA.
"It's very strange. We haven't seen this for some time. It may have already happened here."
In Australia, ecstasy has typically contained only a small amount of MDMA, or none at all, leading many drug users in Australia to take multiple "tabs".
"In Australia over the last few years ecstasy pills have become very poor quality, very weak," Mr Dillon said.
"Young people are now double-dropping or triple-dropping... which means you take two at a time or three at a time.
"They believe they are going to be of such poor quality, you might as well take a lot if you want a hit."
People taking the pills here who do not account for an increased MDMA content may suffer devastating consequences, Mr Dillon says.
"If that is happening here and we have - particularly a young person who hasn't got a great deal of tolerance - who takes two or three at a time, there is a chance of death. MDMA toxicity is possible," Mr Dillon said.
"Unfortunately people think that if I've got an ecstasy pill and it's got MDMA in it, then it's good quality, it won't hurt me. That's just simply not true.
"It can kill and it has done in this country a number of times."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-04/potent-ecstasy-sparks-concerns-for-young-australians/5184700
Increasing levels of MDMA in ecstasy tablets could prove fatal for young Australians, drug researchers warn.
The Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia (DARTA) says there has been a dramatic increase in the circulation of tablets containing high-levels of MDMA in recent months.
Ecstasy is the street name for a range of drugs, including or similar in chemical structure to MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
"The issue that we're seeing, in Europe particularly at the moment, is an increase in the prevalence of MDMA," said Paul Dillon, the founder and director of DARTA.
"It's very strange. We haven't seen this for some time. It may have already happened here."
In Australia, ecstasy has typically contained only a small amount of MDMA, or none at all, leading many drug users in Australia to take multiple "tabs".
"In Australia over the last few years ecstasy pills have become very poor quality, very weak," Mr Dillon said.
"Young people are now double-dropping or triple-dropping... which means you take two at a time or three at a time.
"They believe they are going to be of such poor quality, you might as well take a lot if you want a hit."
People taking the pills here who do not account for an increased MDMA content may suffer devastating consequences, Mr Dillon says.
"If that is happening here and we have - particularly a young person who hasn't got a great deal of tolerance - who takes two or three at a time, there is a chance of death. MDMA toxicity is possible," Mr Dillon said.
"Unfortunately people think that if I've got an ecstasy pill and it's got MDMA in it, then it's good quality, it won't hurt me. That's just simply not true.
"It can kill and it has done in this country a number of times."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-04/potent-ecstasy-sparks-concerns-for-young-australians/5184700
