Parrott AC, Young L. Saturday night fever in ecstasy/MDMA dance clubbers: Heightened body temperature and associated psychobiological changes.
Temperature (Austin) 2014;
1:214-9. [PMID:
27626048 PMCID:
PMC5008707 DOI:
10.4161/23328940.2014.977182]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED
Aims and rationale: to investigate body temperature and thermal self-ratings of Ecstasy/MDMA users at a Saturday night dance club.
METHODS
68 dance clubbers (mean age 21.6 years, 30 females and 38 males), were assessed at a Saturday night dance club, then 2-3 d later. Three subgroups were compared: 32 current Ecstasy users who had taken Ecstasy/MDMA that evening, 10 abstinent Ecstasy/MDMA users on other psychoactive drugs, and 26 non-user controls (predominantly alcohol drinkers). In a comparatively quiet area of the dance club, each unpaid volunteer had their ear temperature recorded, and completed a questionnaire on thermal feelings and mood states. A similar questionnaire was repeated 2-3 d later by mobile telephone.
RESULTS
Ecstasy/MDMA users had a mean body temperature 1.2°C higher than non-user controls (P < 0.001), and felt significantly hotter and thirstier. The abstinent Ecstasy/MDMA polydrug user group had a mean body temperature intermediate between the other 2 groups, significantly higher than controls, and significantly lower than current Ecstasy/MDMA users. After 2-3 d of recovery, the Ecstasy/MDMA users remained significantly 'thirstier'. Higher body temperature while clubbing was associated with greater Ecstasy/MDMA usage at the club, and younger age of first use. Higher temperature also correlated with lower elation and poor memory 2-3 d later. It also correlated positively with nicotine, and negatively with cannabis.
CONCLUSIONS
Ecstasy/MDMA using dance clubbers had significantly higher body temperature than non-user controls. This heightened body temperature was associated with a number of adverse psychobiological consequences, including poor memory.
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