On Sunday at the Perth Big Day Out, a 17 yr old girl died from an ecstasy overdose. But calling it an overdose is misleading. She most likely didn’t die from taking 3 pills (allegedly) in one go – you need about 18-20 in one shot to get poisoned (source: Erowid). She most definitely died because it was a very hot day (~ 38°C), her body overheated greatly as a result of the drug and she wasn’t drinking enough water.
Teen dead after suspected ecstasy overdose at Big Day Out : thewest.com.au
But I guess the point is moot.
As much as I enjoy and partake in it on occasions, I know the stuff is illegal even if I don’t agree with the way government fight this war on drugs. If I was afraid of being caught with them, I’d throw them away. I wouldn’t down 3 in one go in a bid to not waste them. There’s always next time. And purely from an experience point of view, having 3 pills at once spoils your fun because you’d be so out of it. And that’s when the temperatures are moderate. Add the extreme heat, and you are just asking for trouble.
The girl’s age and inexperience with the drug played a big role in her unwise decision. Though, would she be alive if there wasn’t a police presence? Probably.
Sniffer dogs ‘raise risk’ for dance party drug users – National – smh.com.au
But you can’t blame the police for doing their job too. Ostensibly, they are there to discourage drug use. Which is what would happen if you throw your stash away or decide not to take any, because you think that you might be stopped and searched on the day.
But a lot of people like getting high and the majority of them don’t die from doing ecstasy. So trying to beat up this story and use it to scare people off of it will not work. Young people can see the hypocrisy of the law when it comes to drugs. So another approach is necessary.
I believe that education and harm minimisation does not equal encouragement of drug use, just like teaching kids about contraception does not mean we are teaching promiscuity. We have to give them more credit than that. They are smarter than we assume them to be. Arming them with information and trusting them to make a smart decision about drugs, is better than expecting them to make that smart decision without any knowledge at all.
8 Responses to “Unnecessary ecstasy death?”
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I’m pro-information too, in pretty much all areas. The better informed we all are, the more likely we are to make the best decision for ourselves and for those around us.
The water thing is huge. Party safe – and don’t charge $4 for a a 50c bottle of water!
This week, a Singapore man (a professional with very good credentials) who’s a ecstasy user was sentenced to jail and caning for ecstasy trafficking. Apparently the undercover police and kept pestering the user over months to sell them some pills until he finally relented. For that, he was arrested and punished. It was a trap and he fell into it while under pressure.
Read the story here
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_333631.html
As tragic as this girls death and she is a girl at only age 17, I think people need to remember that the police did not put the pills in her mouth, she did, and I think its wrong to say it was partly their fault.
Ultimately if you bring drugs to a big event such as the big day out, you can be pretty sure its going to be policed at its your gamble if you want to take the risk of losing them and getting fined etc.
I think what this case really highlights is the lack of understanding that people have about what is in these drugs and how they effect your body (mind included). 3 at once even on a good day is not the best idea, especially considering she may have been drinking as well and that see was quiet a small person which would all effect the why the chemicals worked through her blood and system (dosage etc).
At the least I hope it gets young people thinking about what they are throwing into their mouths.
What you said is true: it is very difficult to overdose on ecstasy and you have to take a very large amount in order to actually overdose on the drug.
Many ecstasy related deaths thus occur as a result of not drinking enough water. However, something you didn’t mention is that many ecstasy-related deaths occur as a result of drinking TOO MUCH water. Too much water whilst on ecstasy causes the brain to swell which can cause death in extreme circumstances. Thus when taking ectasy it is important to drink the right amount of water; not too much and not too little. It is recommended that drinking sport drink can be better for you while on the drug, as they replace the salts and minerals in your body, not just the water…
Anyway, there’s an interesting bit of trivia for you!
Fiona: yeah the prices for a bottle of water is ridiculous.
blur ting: wow, that’s entrapment right there and very very unfortunate for the guy.
BigZ: you’re right, no one forced her to do what she did, and if she knew enough about the drug, she probably wouldn’t have done that.
girlstar7: yeah, too bad they don’t sell Gatorade at these events.
3 pills in a day rave on a summer afternoon must have been terribly terribly hot.
And since we’re on the subject of pills, can’t resist playing this song
v.u.: heheh, awesome clip. Thanks!
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