Re: The Agony And The Ecstasy Panic, Colby Cosh, March 27. As a researcher who examines living and deceased users of Ecstasy (MDMA), I take issue with several points raised by Colby Cosh. I agree that (pure) Ecstasy fatalities are rare, but the forensic literature suggests that deaths are not necessarily due to an "overdose" but to a highly unpredictable reaction that occurs in a small minority of drug users who have special sensitivity to the drug, perhaps even at "normal" doses. [continues 115 words]
[One of the authors responds:] Joseph Caplan's suggestion that the chemicals involved in the synthesis of methamphetamine hydrochloride be regulated is highly relevant to the prevention of crystal meth use, but this issue was outside the scope of my review article.1 Canada's Precursor Control Regulations include requirements, as Caplan recommends, to control precursors and other substances used in the production of methamphetamine, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and red phosphorus.2 Before 2003 these regulations did not exist and there was much concern, especially in the United States, about the export of precursors from Canada for illicit methamphetamine production.3 It can be argued that the Canadian legislation should be strengthened by requiring more frequent reporting by the chemical industry of the sale of precursors, by requiring licensing of end-users and by other approaches such as requiring that anhydrous ammonia (a nitrogen fertilizer used in methamphetamine synthesis) be stored in government-approved containers.4 [continues 331 words]
