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I do not wish to appear ignorant or doubting, but is the quality of
these reports of "Ecstacy deaths" reliable? I am aware of two such deaths
in Australia, both caused by excessive or inappropriate rehydration, with
the fear of discovery of prohibited behaviour a far more serious risk
factor than use of MDMA per se. I am aware, from Levine and Reinarmann's
excellent book "Crack in America" that any use of cocaine by the mother,
or even suspected use by the mother, was held attributable as the cause of
"crack babies" (where have they gone?) when poverty, poor nutrition, and
use of tobacco or alcohol could better account for any problems. Where is
Ockham's Razor these days - it seems to disappear when drug related
hypotheses are multiplying like mushrooms on a cow pat.
Maybe these are MDMA caused, but more likely some of these deaths are MDMA
related.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
09 August 2002
Rod MacQueen
Clinical Director
Mid West Area Health Service, Orange NSW Australia
MDMA deaths?
I do not wish to appear ignorant or doubting, but is the quality of
these reports of "Ecstacy deaths" reliable? I am aware of two such deaths
in Australia, both caused by excessive or inappropriate rehydration, with
the fear of discovery of prohibited behaviour a far more serious risk
factor than use of MDMA per se. I am aware, from Levine and Reinarmann's
excellent book "Crack in America" that any use of cocaine by the mother,
or even suspected use by the mother, was held attributable as the cause of
"crack babies" (where have they gone?) when poverty, poor nutrition, and
use of tobacco or alcohol could better account for any problems. Where is
Ockham's Razor these days - it seems to disappear when drug related
hypotheses are multiplying like mushrooms on a cow pat.
Maybe these are MDMA caused, but more likely some of these deaths are MDMA
related.
Competing interests: No competing interests