# Moron dies of ecstasy overdose **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448 "2005-01-24T19:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/41 "2005-01-25T21:48:46Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Cite? > > I mean, I’ve done a fucking lot of MDMA… not nine pills in a sitting but 3 or 4 anyway… and I’m talking good shit, complete with magical strobe flashies and love for all things physical and/or visual. > > But in my experience anything more than a couple beers completely killed my “roll”. here you go, completely quoted abstract: > [@](#): > > 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and alcohol interactions in humans: psychomotor performance, subjective effects, and pharmacokinetics. > > Hernandez-Lopez C, Farre M, Roset PN, Menoyo E, Pizarro N, Ortuno J, Torrens M, Cami J, de La Torre R. > > Unit of Pharmacology, Institut Municipal d’Investigacio Medica, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. > > 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is frequently consumed in association with alcohol. The effect of this combination in humans has not been previously investigated. Nine male healthy volunteers received single oral doses of 100 mg of MDMA plus 0.8 g/kg ethanol, 100 mg of MDMA, 0.8 g/kg of ethanol, and placebo in a double blind, double dummy, randomized crossover trial. Measurements included psychomotor performance, subjective effects, and pharmacokinetics. Plasma concentrations of MDMA showed a 13% increase after the use of alcohol, whereas plasma concentrations of alcohol showed a 9 to 15% decrease after MDMA administration. The MDMA-alcohol combination induced longer lasting euphoria and well being than MDMA or alcohol alone. MDMA reversed the subjective sedation induced by alcohol but did not reduce drunkenness feelings. MDMA did not reverse the actions of alcohol on psychomotor abilities. Combined use of MDMA and alcohol causes dissociation between subjective and objective sedation. Subjects may feel euphoric and less sedated and might have the feeling of doing better, but actual performance ability continues to be impaired by the effect of alcohol. Confirmation of these findings in further studies will be highly relevant in terms of road safety. from [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list\_uids=11752122](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11752122) in infrequent users alcohol can inhibit the enzymes used to metabolize MDMA(cytochrome P450). in fequent drinkers, MDMA concentrations could be lowered as a result of the induction of those enzymes. ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/42 "2005-01-25T22:06:37Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Any cite for your statements? According to the coroner (in an article I can’t link to because it’s on a pay-site), there’s a “fatal limit” of ecstasy and he was _well_ above that limit. uhm… isn’t it obvious? No offense or anything, but alcohol is some toxic shit. .267% BAC is enough to kill by itself. I’ve seen a person take 30(!) pills in 48 hours and live to tell the tale. Two toxic drugs == more toxicity, often more than doubling the chance of death. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/43 "2005-01-25T22:38:53Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Any cite for your statements? According to the coroner (in an article I can’t link to because it’s on a pay-site), there’s a “fatal limit” of ecstasy and he was _well_ above that limit. FYI, this is the pit, I am not obligated to post cites. But a simple google search will help. [Here are two websites](http://www.erowid.com) [that I use for info on this and other questions I have.](http://www.ecstasy.org) As other posters have stated, many of us have seen others who have taken 9 or more pills. If you read slowly and carefully, you will see that I said the pills weren’t the **ONLY** cause of death. The kid had a very high alcohol level, which alone could have caused overdose. Until these can be regulated (again), you have to rely on the kits to know what is even in the pills. Some don’t even contain MDMA. Mixing uppers and downers can confuse your heart and create irregular beats which can cause trouble with existing (known and unknown) heart conditions. Look, I know there’s a few of you who have no idea what these “new-fangled club drugs” are, but times change, things evolve. Maybe these aren’t as safe as pot, but there is still the propaganda that exaggerates things. There currently are studies being done on the effects of MDMA and only time will tell. Many people testify to the miraculous effects of safe MDMA use, many who are clinically depressed or terminally ill. My experiences with it have been nothing but positive, although a little rough on the wallet. And on preview, thank you **ninetypercent** , for helping me explain a little better than maybe what I can. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/44 "2005-01-25T22:46:55Z")
> [@ninetypercent](#): > > uhm… isn’t it obvious? No offense or anything, but alcohol is some toxic shit. .267% BAC is enough to kill by itself. I agree. I can’t understand why it is still legal (according to regulation standards, not by mine). There are a few “drugs” that are illegal and less harmful than alcohol, IMO. I’ve never lost control with drugs; I’ve never made poor decisions like driving under the influence or one-night-stands on drugs . . . both poor decisions (amongst others) I have made on alcohol alone. Many people I know can testify to the same. Alcohol is a very, very dangerous drug and the double-standard is mystifying to me. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/45 "2005-01-25T22:46:59Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > Look, I know there’s a few of you who have no idea what these “new-fangled club drugs” are, but times change, things evolve. **Maybe these aren’t as safe as pot,** but there is still the propaganda that exaggerates things. (bolding mine) I feel sooooo old when I read things like this where my drug of choice is being “mocked”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/46 "2005-01-25T22:55:24Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > (bolding mine) I feel sooooo old when I read things like this where my drug of choice is being “mocked”. 😉 I’m sorry you felt like I was mocking you, I personally love pot, I just don’t see it as a drug. I get offended when people who are otherwise very intelligent refuse to read both sides of a debate. How can people who drink shot after shot or a 12-pack in one night sit all high and mighty from their barstools thinking what they’re doing is somehow safer than what others choose to do? I thought we were above the whole “reefer madness” mindset. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/47 "2005-01-25T23:15:21Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > I’m sorry you felt like I was mocking you, I personally love pot, I just don’t see it as a drug. Hey, I never said mocking, I said "mocking:D. We cool. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/48 "2005-01-26T06:13:53Z")
.267 is a high level of alcohol, but nowhere near the fatal limit according to [this site](http://www.uwec.edu/counsel/pubs/blood.htm). Don’t forget, the kid was Irish, Irish people drink more than you American yokels (hey, if you’re going to through gratuitous insults around so will I). The coroner stated it was the ecstasy that killed him and I would think the coroner would be the best placed person to judge. And if we don’t know exactly what was in those pills, how do we know that each pill wasn’t itself twice the “normal” ecstasy dose? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/49 "2005-01-26T06:18:30Z")
_throw_, even :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/50 "2005-01-26T06:52:42Z")
> [@ninetypercent](#): > > in infrequent users alcohol can inhibit the enzymes used to metabolize MDMA(cytochrome P450). in fequent drinkers, MDMA concentrations could be lowered as a result of the induction of those enzymes. Well that certainly explains my experience. I’m definitely what you’d call a “frequent drinker”. Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/51 "2005-01-26T06:58:50Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > And if we don’t know exactly what was in those pills, how do we know that each pill wasn’t itself twice the “normal” ecstasy dose? Excactly. The scaremongers almost always omit that the killer in these cases is usually [PMA](http://www.urban75.com/Drugs/pma.html), not MDMA. A cheap simple [test kit](http://dancesafe.org/documents/druginfo/testingkits.php) can detect the presence of nasty adulterants, and back when I could still find and/or afford X, I always tested it first. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448/52 "2005-01-26T07:02:15Z")
[The link to the test kits that I _meant_ to post](http://dancesafe.org/testingkits/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-dies-of-ecstasy-overdose/286448.md?page=2)