PMID- 12472637
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20030203
LR  - 20190916
IS  - 0965-2140 (Print)
IS  - 0965-2140 (Linking)
VI  - 97
IP  - 12
DP  - 2002 Dec
TI  - The content of ecstasy tablets: implications for the study of their long-term 
      effects.
PG  - 1531-6
AB  - AIMS: To examine the variation in the content of ecstasy tablets seized in the 
      north-west of England during 2001 and to compare it to the UK average from 1991 
      to 2001. MEASUREMENTS: All tablets submitted to the Forensic Science Service in 
      the north-west of England during 2001 were analysed by high performance liquid 
      chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The mean MDMA content of 
      these tablets are reported and compared to results from all Forensic Science 
      Service laboratories in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2001. Multiple samples 
      (n= 80) from a single large seizure of White Dove tablets were analysed to 
      determine the variation due to manufacturing. FINDINGS: All tablets submitted 
      from the north-west of England to the Forensic Science Service in 2001 were found 
      to contain 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and some also contained 
      3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDEA). The MDMA content of these tablets ranged 
      from 20 to 109 mg and the mean was in the 60-69 mg range. Mitsubishi tablets were 
      the most common type and they were found across the whole range. The low 
      variation of MDMA content in the White Dove tablets suggests that these tablets 
      were well manufactured. The data from the north-west of England in 2001 are in 
      agreement with tablet analyses over the past 10 years which show that the average 
      MDMA content is falling. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of MDMA in ecstasy tablets is 
      axiomatic to the discussion of their long-term effects. In order for the observed 
      differences in ecstasy users to be the result of MDMA-induced neurotoxicity it is 
      necessary for them to have ingested one or more neurotoxic doses. These data 
      indicate that the amount of MDMA in ecstasy tablets is dropping and that 
      dose-effect relationships need to take this into account.
FAU - Cole, Jon C
AU  - Cole JC
AD  - Psychology Department, Liverpool University, UK. joncole@liv.ac.uk
FAU - Bailey, Mike
AU  - Bailey M
FAU - Sumnall, Harry R
AU  - Sumnall HR
FAU - Wagstaff, Graham F
AU  - Wagstaff GF
FAU - King, Les A
AU  - King LA
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - England
TA  - Addiction
JT  - Addiction (Abingdon, England)
JID - 9304118
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - 0 (Serotonin Agents)
RN  - 0 (Tablets)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods
MH  - Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
MH  - Hallucinogens/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*chemistry
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/administration & dosage/adverse 
      effects/*chemistry
MH  - Serotonin Agents/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*chemistry
MH  - Tablets/chemistry
EDAT- 2002/12/11 04:00
MHDA- 2003/02/04 04:00
CRDT- 2002/12/11 04:00
PHST- 2002/12/11 04:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2003/02/04 04:00 [medline]
PHST- 2002/12/11 04:00 [entrez]
AID - 222 [pii]
AID - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00222.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Addiction. 2002 Dec;97(12):1531-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00222.x.