Taking MDMA can raise our body temperature higher than it should be. Extreme heat may compound this effect.
Sydney and other parts of Australia have just experienced a significant heatwave, opens in a new window, with temperatures reaching highs of well over 40°C. In Sydney in particular, the extreme heat has coincided with a bustling schedule of live music events, opens in a new window, attracting large crowds despite the sweltering conditions.
Drug experts raised concerns, opens in a new window ahead of the sold-out Epik festival which took place at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, cautioning revellers against the dangers of taking illicit drugs in extreme heat.
Reports have since emerged that four festival patrons, opens in a new window were taken to hospital for reasons relating to drugs.
While illicit drug use is dangerous no matter the circumstances, extremely hot weather may make it even more risky.
We know the use of recreational drugs is common at live music events such as festivals. Studies have shown people who frequently attend music festivals, opens in a new window and dance events tend to have more experience with illegal substances, opens in a new window than their counterparts who don’t attend these events.
Wastewater analyses have confirmed, opens in a new window the prevalence of drug use at music festivals.
In Australia and overseas, several live music events have been marred by tragedies linked to drug use. As recently as October, two men, aged 21 and 26, died following suspected drug overdoses, opens in a new window at the Knockout music festival in Sydney.
At these sorts of events, MDMA (or ecstasy) is among the most commonly used substances, opens in a new window. And when taken during extreme heat, the risks could be much greater.
MDMA triggers the release of substances that interfere with our temperature regulation, opens in a new window, leading the body to generate more heat than usual. This effect is known as hyperthermia (as opposed to hypothermia, when the body gets too cold).
This elevation in body temperature happens even if the person using drugs is not exerting themselves and not in a hot environment. In this context, the effect can still cause dehydration, opens in a new window.
However, the effects may be greater if a person is exerting themselves in hot, crowded settings. Studies have shown that on average, for a person who takes MDMA somewhere like a dance club, their body temperature can increase by more than 1°C, opens in a new window.
In extreme cases, a sharp increase in body temperature can lead to, opens in a new window organ failure and even death.
Extreme heat may compound the hyperthermia induced by taking the drug. A study in rats, opens in a new window showed a moderate dose of MDMA that is typically non-fatal in cool, quiet environments can be fatal in rats exposed to conditions that mimic the hot, crowded settings where people often use the drug.
Illicit drugs pose significant dangers to people who use them at music festivals and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, with climate change, we are set to face more frequent and intense, opens in a new window heatwaves in the future. So it’s important to better understand how the weather might intensify the risks of drug use.
The principles of harm reduction recognise that, despite our best efforts to educate people about the risks associated with substance use, some people will continue to experiment with drugs at music festivals. So it becomes essential to minimise potential harms through evidence-based strategies, such as pill testing, opens in a new window.
Harm reduction messages play a vital role in educating music festival attendees about the dangers of drug use, especially in hot conditions. These messages must encourage seeking medical help without fear of repercussions, staying hydrated, taking regular breaks, and wearing appropriate clothing for sun protection. Public officials, event organisers, families and friends can all contribute to spreading these messages, though attendees also need to exercise personal responsibility.
Messaging should also stress the importance of patrons looking out for their friends, highlighting everyone has a role in maintaining a safe environment at these events.
Milad Haghani, opens in a new window, Senior Lecturer of Public Safety & Disaster Risk, UNSW Sydney, opens in a new window and Pegah Varamini, opens in a new window, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Head of Breast Cancer Targeting and Drug Delivery Laboratory, University of Sydney, opens in a new window
This article is republished from The Conversation, opens in a new window under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article, opens in a new window.