OvErhEating and dEath

Serotonin is also used by the body to regulate temperature. While the brain is flooded with it, the body cannot produce any more at the nerve endings where it is usually stored. Particularly when several pills are taken, the body starts to overheat. Dancing in a hot room which other people makes the situation worse. Regular users know they must drink water but often it is too late. Some deaths have been caused by people drinking too much water. Some people’s blood temperature can reach 43 degrees when they use E. At this temperature the blood coagulates and the user dies.

From E to E.R. – It’s impossible to know what are you buying

E is indisputably a dangerous drug for many people. Even more dangerous is the stuff that is sold as E but is something else. The majority of people who end up in the E.R. (emergency room) of hospitals, have not taken E. They have been tricked and have taken fake E, containing cheaper and more dangerous chemicals than those in E. According to the time magazine, as demand for E has grown, so has the incentive to manufacture fake E, especially for one-time raves full of teens who won’t see the dealer again.

6. Read the text and answer the questions:

a. Is it ever safe to take Ecstasy?

b. Under what circumstances is the drug most dangerous?

c. What does the drug do?

d. What can be done to minimize the number of young people who die each year from Ecstasy and other drugs?

7. Work with your partner and make a list of five activities which you do in your free-time and which you never do? Tell your group mates about them. What activity is the most / least popular in your group?