Reducing the harm

The Drug Foundation’s message is clear: no drug use is the safest drug use. But we realise there will be occasions when people ignore warnings and use drugs. In order to limit the harm from their drug use, we provide information about effective methods of drug harm minimisation. Such information directly benefits the person using drugs, and also protects the wider community.

Ecstasy users are strongly urged to use a reagent test that can validate the presence of MDMA in the tablets. A reagent test analyses a small sliver of the tablet or powder and changes colour if MDMA is found.

Users of ecstasy, especially people who partake in vigorous physical activity such as dancing at a nightclub, run a significant risk of both dehydrating or drinking too much water. It is recommended that people using ecstasy who are active drink about 500ml of water every hour, or 250ml if inactive. Alcohol dehydrates the body further.

Intense and prolonged dancing can cause considerable stress on the cardiovascular system and raise body temperature. It is recommended that people take regular breaks to calm the body down, and this will also reduce the need to drink too much water.

Ecstasy presents risk to both the body and the mind. Staying with friends is important so they can look after you if you begin to feel unwell. Friends can also help you if you feel upset or depressed because of the emotional effects that ecstasy can sometimes cause.