Amphetamine Derivative Fatalities in South Australia-Is "Ecstasy" the Culprit?

Byard, Roger W.; Gilbert, John D.; James, Rosemary; Rj, Lokan

doi:10.1097/00000433-199809000-00013

Cited by 113 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…It seems that not all entactogens show similar overdose risks. In fact, although MDA, MDEA and MBDB show acute toxicity levels comparable to MDMA [5] , PMA has been associated with a much higher rate of lethal complications than MDMA [8,9] . Similarly, Carmo et al [10] suggested that 4-MTA in humans has been associated with severe intoxications and several deaths.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Mortality Data – UK, 1997–2007

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background/Aims: Despite being amphetamine derivatives, MDMA and its analogues show a number of clinical pharmacological differences with respect to both amphetamine (AMP) and methylamphetamine (METH). We aimed here at reporting and analysing information relating to the socio-demographics and clinical circumstances of the AMP-type stimulant-related deaths for the whole of the UK. Methods: Data (1997–2007) were taken from the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) database, collecting information from UK coroners/procurators fiscal. To calculate rates of fatalities per 100,000 users, appropriate AMP/METH and ecstasy users’ numbers were taken from the 2001–2007 British Crime Survey. Results: Overall, 832 AMP/METH- and 605 ecstasy (mostly MDMA and methylenedioxyamphetamine/MDA)-related deaths were respectively identified. In comparison with AMP/METH victims, the ecstasy ones were more likely to be younger (28.3 vs. 32.7 years; p < 0.0001) and less likely to be known as drug users (PR = 1.9; CI 1.5–2.6). Ecstasy was more likely to be identified on its own than AMP/METH (p = 0.0192). Contributory factors were more frequently mentioned by coroners in the ‘AMP/METH-only’ (106 cases) group than in the ‘ecstasy-only’ (104 cases) one (p = 0.0043). Both poly- and monodrug AMP/METH fatalities per 100,000 16- to 59-year-old users were significantly more represented than ecstasy fatalities (respectively 17.87 ± 4.77 deaths vs. 10.89 ± 1.27; p = 0.000; 2.09 ± 0.88 vs. 1.75 ± 0.56; p = 0.0096). However, mono-intoxication ecstasy fatalities per 100,000 16- to 24-year-old users were significantly more represented than AMP/METH fatalities (1.67 ± 0.52 vs. 0.8 ± 0.65; p = 0.0007). Conclusion: With respect to AMP/METH, ecstasy was here more typically identified in victims who were young, healthy, and less likely to be known as drug users. AMP/METH high mortality rates may be explained by users’ high levels of physical co-morbidity; excess ecstasy-related fatality rates in young users may be a reason for concern. Although the coroners’ response rate was of 90–95%, study limitations include both reporting inconsistency over time and lack of routine information on drug intake levels prior to death.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Mortality Data – UK, 1997–2007

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It can also be a useful way of determining the types of illicit drugs that are being used in a particular community, and to provide information to law enforcement agencies, physicians and users when new drugs with significant side effects such as paramethoxyamphetamine are being introduced, or when purer grades of opiates such as heroin are being sold. Both may be associated with increasing cases of lethal and nonlethal drug toxicity [2,3].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues in the interpretation of postmortem toxicology

Byard

Butzbach

2011

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The main reported features of these deaths were severe hyperthermia and associated rhabdomyolysis and electrolyte imbalances. Cardiovascular stimulation has also been a reported in cases of PMA intoxication (Byard et al 1998;Felgate et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) is a substituted amphetamine, which is used as a drug in its own right and has also been sold as "ecstasy" (Cimbura et al 1974;White et al 1997;Byard et al 1998). It has been reported to have a higher rate of lethal complications than other amphetamine derivatives such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), having contributed to the deaths of at least 16 people in Australia since late 1994.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%