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Finch E, Sell L, Arnold D. 
“Drug workers emphasise that water is not an antidote to drug”. 
BMJ. 1996 Sep 14;313(7058):690.
Abstract
S M Matthai and colleagues describe two cases of cerebral oedema after ingestion of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethemphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy'). They correctly criticise the practice of encouraging unrestricted intake of water, but we would like to make it clear that this is not currently recommended harm reduction advice for young people who use the drug. After reports of deaths after MDMA ingestion in patients who were found to have hyponatraemia and cerebral oedema, drug workers involved with young people were advised to recommend drinking limited amounts of water to combat dehydration while dancing and to convey the message that water is not an antidote to the drug. It has also been suggested that MDMA may induce compulsive repetitive behaviour such as obsessive drinking in susceptible people.
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