The Puzzling Uproar Over One County's Attempt to Educate People About Reducing Harm Risks from MDMA

 As a physician who has researched and written extensively about MDMA, I took a keen interest in the ecstasy fact card controversy developing in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health is taking quite a bit of heat right now for the card they created to be distributed at large-scale rave dance parties in the city card. The fact card explains the physical effects of ecstasy, the risks involved in its use and how to reduce these risks – including by choosing not to take the substance at all.

These cards were developed and approved by a panel of experts, including physicians, public health experts and harm reductionists. But of course no good, smart, sensible idea goes unpunished when it comes to helping people stay safe and avoid drug-related injuries; local politicians and reporters are manufacturing unnecessary drug hysteria and calling for the cards to either be altered or banned entirely. Presumably those people believe that if we simply don’t tell people how to be safe if they decide to use ecstasy, young people will either just not take it or they will somehow intuit how to avoid hurting themselves if they do. The fact card certainly doesn’t glamorize or encourage illegal drug use so it’s hard to understand why some oppose it so strongly.

Like any responsible physician, I am highly aware of the dangers and risks of alcohol and drug abuse and addiction. Like the Los Angeles politicians and reporters responding to the story, I share their concerns about young people using ecstasy at these raves. I empathize with their desire to protect as many young people as possible from all dangerous substances. But the fact is that ecstasy is not the ‘killer drug” politicians and the media would like us to believe.

Most adverse events associated with the consumption of ecstasy can be avoided or mitigated by taking common sense steps, many of which are detailed on the fact card. Warnings about the dangers of ecstasy appear often, including, “Most medical emergencies or deaths are from heart problems or complications from hyperthermia (increased body temperature) and hyponatremia (electrolyte imbalance from drinking too much water too fast.” Hyponatremia is a real concern. Encouraging people who consume ecstasy to stay hydrated is vital, but it’s equally important to emphasize the risks of drinking too much water too quickly. The Department of Public Health did the right thing by including this risk factor on the card.

It’s puzzling why there is such an uproar over such an innocuous information delivery system. It’s one thing to disapprove of young people using alcohol and other drugs; it’s another thing entirely to prevent them from accessing information that could literally save their lives. The ultimate responsibility for any child’s safety always rests with the parent, but we should be applauding the LA County Department of Public Health for taking this important first step to help keep young people safe. Young people need more of the facts about the risks of drug use, not less. A consistent parental and public health response to the realities of drug use among young people is essential to their on-going safety.