Cheaper ecstasy led to more deaths

The falling price of ecstasy is to blame for a six-fold rise in deaths linked to the drug, according to a study.

Coroners' reports attributed 12 deaths to ecstasy in 1996, but by 2001 annual fatalities had spiralled to 72, researchers from St George's Hospital Medical School in south London found.

The team, led by Dr Fabrizio Schifano, analysed information on 202 cases in England and Wales linked to the drug and concluded that a sharp drop in the price of ecstasy was a "significant factor" in rising fatalities.

The average price of a single tablet was £16.50 in early 1994, but by December 2001 it had more than halved to £7, the researchers said.

"If the effects of inflation are taken into account, the fall in real terms is even greater," they added.

Other possible factors in the increase included wider availability of ecstasy and coroners being more willing to blame the drug for fatalities.

The study also concluded that ecstasy alone could kill, although previous research has suggested that danger arises when it is mixed with other drugs such as alcohol.

Dr Fabrizio Schifano said he was particularly concerned that so many of the victims were young, with three-quarters under the age of 29.

"Just show anyone the graph and the message is clear - the situation is getting worse," he said.

The full research paper is published in the latest issue of the Human Psychopharmacology journal.

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