Ecstasy (MDMA) Deaths in New York City: A Case Series and Review of the Literature
James R. Gill, Jude R. Hayes, Ian S. Desouza, Elizabeth K. Marker, Marina Stajić
Journal of Forensic Sciences 2002 DOI: 10.1520/jfs15211j (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective review Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | MDMA-positive fatalities investigated by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner from 1997 to 2000 |
| Duration | January 1997 to June 2000 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Medical examiner Poison control Drug overdose Substance abuse Blunt Injury prevention Hallucinogen Epidemiology |
| Citations | 77 |
| Key findings | Of 22 MDMA-positive deaths, 13 were due to acute drug intoxication, 7 to mechanical injury, and 2 to a combination of natural disease and acute drug intoxication. |
Abstract
Abstract MDMA (“ecstasy”) has gained renewed popularity as a drug of abuse. To access the epidemiology and causes of death of MDMA-positive fatalities, all deaths investigated by the OCME that tested positive for MDMA (22 deaths) between January 1997 and June 2000 were reviewed. There were three deaths in each 1997 and 1998, eleven in 1999, and five in the first part of 2000. Of these 22 deaths, 13 were due to acute drug intoxications, 7 due to mechanical injury (blunt trauma, gunshot wounds), and 2 due to a combination of natural disease and acute drug intoxication. Evidence of recent opiate and/or cocaine use was found in 7 of the acute intoxication deaths and in none of the traumatic or combination natural/intoxication deaths. The race of all decedents was White between the ages of 17–41 years, and 18 of 22 were men.