A paper was published last Friday by University of Hertfordshire’s Professor Fabrizio Schifano reporting that ecstasy-related deaths in young and healthy people is a cause for concern.  The study showed that out of the 832 people who died of amphetamines and methylamphetamines, 605 of these related to ecstasy.  The data was obtained from a study of stimulant-related deaths in the UK over a ten-year period between 1997 and 2007.  Even though ecstasy and amphetamines are part of the same pharmacological group, ecstasy appears to be more toxic.

Yearly reports have shown that ecstasy consumption is on the low with a drop in ecstasy possession (Metropolitan Police stats).  1,197 people were caught with this drug in 2006, dropping year on year to 331 people in the latest stats available.  The main reason appears to be the difficulty with obtaining the active ingredient MDMA due to restrictions now imposed on to legitimate companies making it harder for criminals to obtain.  Seems like there are many bogus pills on the market including one user reporting that they were in possession of pills made of steroids and caffeine.