1. Symptoms and correlates of emergency medical treatment following the use of MDMA
Dr. Larissa J. Maier
Monica J. Barratt, Jason A. Ferris, & Adam R. Winstock
Lx Addictions, October 24th – 26th 2017, Lisbon

2. Overview Part I The Rationale for the Study
Part II The Global Drug Survey (GDS)
Part III MDMA & Emergency Medical Treatment

3. Results
Global drug market trends
21,600,000
UNODC (2017)
UNODC (2017)

4. High purity ecstasy pills in Europe
BACKGROUND
High purity ecstasy pills in Europe
Saferparty (2017)

5. Fixed-site drug checking Zurich 2007 – 2016
BACKGROUND
Fixed-site drug checking Zurich 2007 – 2016
Saferparty.ch (2017)

7. Background
We run the world‘s largest drug survey
GDS ,500
GDS ,000
GDS ,000
GDS ,000
GDS ,000
GDS ,000
GDS ,000+

8. GDS aims to make drug use safer regardless of the legal status of the drugs by sharing information with individuals, communities, health and policy organisations and government.

9. GDS Core Research Team + Senior Academic Mentor Group
Background
GDS Core Research Team
+ Senior Academic Mentor Group
+ Scientific Advisory Group
+ International Network

12. Strengths and limitations of the GDS
EVALUATION
Strengths and limitations of the GDS
Acceptance among recreational drug users (≠ HH surveys)
Profile new drugs quickly (e.g., Mephedrone, DMT, 1P-LSD)
Identify regional differences
Real time research
Independent
Mostly well-educated young adults
Not representative

13. MDMA use for the first time
Results
MDMA use for the first time

14. Results
EMT MDMA gender & age

15. No remarquable country differences
Results
No remarquable country differences
2.5%
1.2%

16. Symptoms related to EMT
Results
Symptoms related to EMT
Anxiety
Confusion
Depressed mood
Extreme agitation
Palpitations
Overheating
Extreme sweating
Paranoia

17. Were you admitted to hospital? (n=212)
Results
Were you admitted to hospital? (n=212)

18. MDMA Emergency Medical Treatment
Results
MDMA Emergency Medical Treatment

19. Could the EMT have been avoided?
Results
Could the EMT have been avoided?
Only 55.6% (n=134) obtained the MDMA from a trusted source
Only 29.0% (n=70) had tried the MDMA before that night
Only 26.6% (n=64) started the night with a test dose
Overall, 50.2% (n=121) took that night a bigger dose than their usual dose

20. Results
Drug, set and setting
61.4% (n=148) were already drunk when starting MDMA use
5.6 alcoholic drinks and 1.3l water
27.4% think that the drug they used was adulterated
Only 57.1% felt fine without physical (15.6%) or mental (13.7%) health issues or both (13.7%)

21. MOST EMergencies COULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN AVOIdED!

22. @maier_larissa
@globaldrugsurvy