A recent European study suggests that the drug called "ecstasy" ( MDMA ) is deadly when taken on its own. Human Psychopharmacology -- a medical research journal from England -- published the findings of the study in their October issue.
According to the study, 17 per cent of ecstasy-related deaths resulted when the victim had taken ecstasy and no other drug, and four out of five were male victims.
"I think the male predominance simply reflects the fact that young males are, in general, heavier users of all drugs than females are," said Dr. Harold Kalant, a professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and author of The Pharmacology and Toxicology of "Ecstasy" ( MDMA ) and Related Drugs ( 2001 ).
"It isn't that males are biologically more vulnerable. It's simply that if you use more, you stand a greater chance of suffering harm from it."
Patrick Bartens, a second-year multimedia design student, said he tried the drug but doesn't do it anymore.
"I experimented when I was younger," he said. Bartens said he believes that everything has a risk.
"Going to sleep can kill you," he said. "[ecstasy] can kill you, but so can everything else."
Kalant said that recognizing a person that has taken ecstasy may not be as easy as it seems.
"A number of other drugs can have closely similar effects," Kalant said. "But you can at least have reasonable grounds for suspicion if somebody you know seems far more excited, talkative and irrational than is usual for that person." He added that if the person is sweating and thirsty, they may have used ecstasy.
"Ecstasy can kill you, but so can everything. . ."
Irene Bond, a full-time registered nurse at the Humber College Health Centre, said not many people have come to the health centre with ecstasy-related problems.
"It's more of an underground issue," she said, adding that the health centre is willing to help anyone who may want to talk about ecstasy or need rehabilitation services.
drugpolicycentral.com
10-23-03
According to the study, 17 per cent of ecstasy-related deaths resulted when the victim had taken ecstasy and no other drug, and four out of five were male victims.
"I think the male predominance simply reflects the fact that young males are, in general, heavier users of all drugs than females are," said Dr. Harold Kalant, a professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and author of The Pharmacology and Toxicology of "Ecstasy" ( MDMA ) and Related Drugs ( 2001 ).
"It isn't that males are biologically more vulnerable. It's simply that if you use more, you stand a greater chance of suffering harm from it."
Patrick Bartens, a second-year multimedia design student, said he tried the drug but doesn't do it anymore.
"I experimented when I was younger," he said. Bartens said he believes that everything has a risk.
"Going to sleep can kill you," he said. "[ecstasy] can kill you, but so can everything else."
Kalant said that recognizing a person that has taken ecstasy may not be as easy as it seems.
"A number of other drugs can have closely similar effects," Kalant said. "But you can at least have reasonable grounds for suspicion if somebody you know seems far more excited, talkative and irrational than is usual for that person." He added that if the person is sweating and thirsty, they may have used ecstasy.
"Ecstasy can kill you, but so can everything. . ."
Irene Bond, a full-time registered nurse at the Humber College Health Centre, said not many people have come to the health centre with ecstasy-related problems.
"It's more of an underground issue," she said, adding that the health centre is willing to help anyone who may want to talk about ecstasy or need rehabilitation services.
drugpolicycentral.com
10-23-03
