DEADLY DRUG COMBINATION: ECSTASY AND ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

Four Young Users Die During One Year

Four young Finns are reported to have died of the combined effects of the
drug ecstasy and pharmaceutical anti-depressants in the past year. There
are no previous reports of such deaths in Finland, or elsewhere. Erkki
Vuori, Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Helsinki, wrote
in the journal Mediuutiset recently that no such cases have been reported
in the international literature. Experts say that the combined use of
ecstasy and anti-depressants could be a very Finnish phenomenon.

In Finland, many users of intoxicants appear to be especially prone to
trying different combinations of drugs. "We have an exceptionally large
amount of combined use of alcohol and pharmaceuticals, and this phenomenon
has spread among users of illicit drugs", says Antti Jaaskelainen, forensic
pathologist for the Province of West Finland. Jaaskelainen has studied the
recent deaths, one of which occurred in Turku and the rest in the Helsinki
region. "Perhaps the deaths in Finland are not quite unique, but the use of
many drugs is a Finnish phenomenon. Now we are wondering what might be
done", Jaaskelainen sighs.

Each of the four deaths involved the same combination: in addition to
ecstasy, users have taken the anti-depressant Aurorix(R). Two young users
died after taking such a combination about a year ago, and two others about
two months ago. Ecstasy, a drug with both stimulant and psychedelic
properties, is generally used by recreational drug users rather than
hard-core addicts.

The typical user is a young person seeking good feelings and the
stimulation necessary for hours of dancing at "rave" parties. "Many ecstasy
users are just becoming acquainted with drugs", says Antti Holopainen, head
physician at the Jarvenpaa Addiction Hospital. He says that he has not seen
many instances of combined use of ecstasy and anti-depressants. Holopainen
adds that doctors and others working in drug rehabilitation have known for
years of the dangers of combining Aurorix(R) and amphetamines.
"Anti-depressants combined with ecstasy can lead to a so-called serotonin
syndrome.

Aurorix(R) is the most dangerous of the substances", Holopainen says.

What is especially alarming in Holopainen's view is that the use of ecstasy
in itself eventually leads to a gloomy phase, which young users try to
counter with anti-depressants sold on the black market. This is apparently
what happened in each of the deaths that have come to light. Holopainen
warns that ecstasy is not as harmless a stimulant as some young users seem
to think. "Contrary to what is generally believed, occasional use can lead
to addiction and to organic changes in the brain.

Especially skills linked with learning can deteriorate." Some have taken
anti-depressants specifically to boost the effects of the ecstasy.

There has been plenty of discussion in Internet chat rooms on ways to boost
the effects of "e".

On the other hand news of the four deaths has awoken concern among users of
ecstasy. For instance, many questions on the combined effects of ecstasy
and anti-depressants have been posted on the web site of the A-Clinic
Foundation in recent days. "I have suggested that we post clear
instructions on what substances should not be combined", says project
planner Lotta Lehmusvaara of the A-Clinic Foundation. "The experts have
been so busy that no instructions have been written yet." On Wednesday the
A-Clinic Foundation web site was not working. "It seems that some hacker
crashed the whole server on Tuesday", says Rauno Makela, head physician at
the A-Clinic Foundation.

Links: DrugScope (UK) drug database - Ecstasy

Aurorix (R) information