PMID- 19604654
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20091028
LR  - 20191210
IS  - 1879-0046 (Electronic)
IS  - 0376-8716 (Linking)
VI  - 104
IP  - 3
DP  - 2009 Oct 1
TI  - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-related fatalities in Australia: 
      demographics, circumstances, toxicology and major organ pathology.
PG  - 254-61
LID - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.05.016 [doi]
AB  - AIM: To examine the demographic characteristics, circumstances, toxicology and 
      major organ pathology of MDMA-related deaths in Australia. METHODS: Retrospective 
      review of cases in which MDMA was a cause of death, as identified from the 
      National Coronial Information System. RESULTS: 82 cases over a 5-year period were 
      identified. The majority of decedents were male (83%), with a median age of 26 
      years. Deaths were predominantly due to drug toxicity (82%), with MDMA the sole 
      drug causing death in 23% of cases, and combined drug toxicity in 59% of cases. 
      The remaining deaths (18%) were primarily due to pathological events/disease or 
      injury, with MDMA a significant contributing condition. Cardiovascular pathology, 
      typically atherosclerosis, was detected in 58% of decedents, with moderate-severe 
      atherosclerosis in 23% of cases. The prevalence of such pathology is higher than 
      that expected among similarly aged members of the general population. 
      Cerebrovascular pathology, primarily cerebral haemorrhage and hypoxic damage, was 
      present in 12% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: MDMA has contributed to a clinically 
      significant number of deaths in Australia. The prevalence of cardiovascular 
      pathology was similar to that among methamphetamine and cocaine fatalities. 
      Whilst cardiovascular pathology may reflect the use of other stimulants, the 
      cardiotoxic properties of MDMA have been well-documented. Future studies 
      examining MDMA-related morbidity and mortality in the context of other risk 
      factors are recommended. Overall, the current study highlights the need to 
      educate users about the potential harms of MDMA use, particularly that in 
      conjunction with other stimulants, opioids and alcohol, which are known to 
      increase overall toxicity.
FAU - Kaye, Sharlene
AU  - Kaye S
AD  - National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, NSW, 
      Australia. s.kaye@med.unsw.edu.au
FAU - Darke, Shane
AU  - Darke S
FAU - Duflou, Johan
AU  - Duflou J
LA  - eng
PT  - Comparative Study
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20090714
PL  - Ireland
TA  - Drug Alcohol Depend
JT  - Drug and alcohol dependence
JID - 7513587
RN  - 0 (Illicit Drugs)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adolescent
MH  - Adult
MH  - Amphetamine-Related Disorders/epidemiology/*mortality/pathology
MH  - Australia/epidemiology
MH  - Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced/epidemiology/pathology
MH  - Cause of Death
MH  - Cerebrovascular Disorders/chemically induced/epidemiology/pathology
MH  - Employment
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - Illicit Drugs/blood
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/blood/*poisoning
MH  - Sex Factors
MH  - Suicide/statistics & numerical data
MH  - Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology
EDAT- 2009/07/17 09:00
MHDA- 2009/10/29 06:00
CRDT- 2009/07/17 09:00
PHST- 2008/12/02 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2009/05/12 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2009/05/13 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2009/07/17 09:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/07/17 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2009/10/29 06:00 [medline]
AID - S0376-8716(09)00201-4 [pii]
AID - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.05.016 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009 Oct 1;104(3):254-61. doi: 
      10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.05.016. Epub 2009 Jul 14.