Ecstasy’s not worth the risk, says tragic student’s mother
THE devastated mother of a student who died after taking ecstasy as she celebrated the end of her time at university said taking the drug is ‘not worth the risk’.
Mosca Burns spoke out after an inquest heard her daughter Joana had taken the drug at least twice before swallowing the fatal dose at a students’ music night notorious for ecstasy use.
Joana, 22, was celebrating finishing her maths degree at Sheffield Hallam University when she took £7 worth of the drug, also known as MDMA. She died later in hospital.
Her mother said after the hearing: ‘I would prefer it if nobody took MDMA again because I don’t think you can assess the risk.
‘It’s different every time you take it. It can have a different affect on your body, it’s made in different ways, in different recipes, in different places, by different people, with different ethics. So, it’s not worth the risk.’
Sheffield Coroner’s Court heard Miss Burns was with a group of friends who all agreed to take the drug. One of the friends bought it in the form of a powder which they then made into ‘ bombs’ – wrapping the powder in order to swallow it.
Miss Burns’s boyfriend Lewis Birch told the hearing that she took the ecstasy willingly and he thought it was probably the third time she had done so. Mr Birch said they were with a group who decided to go to the Tuesday Club at the students’ union at the neighbouring Sheffield University – an event he said was known for ecstasy use.
He said Miss Burns took one ‘bomb’ before she went into the union building on June 6 last year. The inquest heard she took another in the early hours of the morning, but witnesses said she vomited that one straight back up before she started fitting and was taken to hospital. Mr Birch, who said he had been in a relationship with Miss Burns for three years, said he paid £ 14 for the ecstasy powder, which he said was cheaper than usual. He said everyone else who took it was unharmed. Pathologist Kim Suvarna told the court Miss Burns died from drug toxicity. He said the MDMA probably reacted with enzymes in her body to cause it to overheat. Dr Suvarna said: ‘There’s no such thing as a safe drug, particularly with this kind of psychoactive substance. If you are susceptible, they will kill you.
‘The young tend to believe they can do things they wish because they are young and immortal. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply.’
Assistant coroner Abigail Combes recorded a verdict of misadventure.
A Sheffield Hallam University spokesman said: ‘Joana was a very popular student with a bright future. We are
‘No such thing as a safe drug’
as committed to ensuring our students are safe and aware of the support available.’
A girl of 15 girl died at a beauty spot minutes after taking ecstasy for the first time, an inquest heard.
Shauna Davies had begun hallucinating during the walk up Caerphilly Mountain in South Wales. She collapsed and later died in hospital on June 18 last year.
Shauna’s mother Maria Leggatt, of Caerphilly, said her daughter had begun experimenting with alcohol at 14 and cannabis around six months before her death. Gwent Coroner Wendy James recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying Shauna’s lifestyle had been ‘laden with risk’.