There's also much we don't know. For example, at an event where someone dies there were probably many people who had taken the same drug and at higher doses but been OK. In this complex situation, more high-quality information about the content and strength of pills, powders and crystals being sold as ecstasy is desperately needed.

While MDMA deaths are rising, they are still fortunately very rare. The relationship between MDMA dose and the risk of death is inconsistent and unpredictable, though it is a crucial factor. While there is little doubt that higher doses place most people at greater risk of harm, some people die after taking "normal" doses. In Australia we also have the problem of other, more dangerous substances being sold as MDMA, causing overdose and sometimes death, as seen recently at the Gold Coast.

In Australia there are exceptions, and the work of world-leading harm reduction organisations like DanceWize, ACON and Mardi Gras Medical work to keep people safe if they should overdo it.

For those of us who have been in the field for a while it can be easy to forget that commonsense harm reduction information is not always as easily available or as credible as it should be, especially for people new to taking drugs. If people are going to use MDMA, they need to know how to dose. They need to know when they will come up, how they will feel and when to re-dose.

Flat Chat: Can we evict a drug dealer from an apartment building? Credit:iStock

They need to know that twice the dose is not twice the high – even small increases in dose can lead to very big increases in actual blood levels and can tip you into feel sick and unwell. They need to know not to take MDMA from different batches. And then there is all the basic stuff – not drinking too much water, not getting drunk when taking pills, not mixing with other stimulants, and leaving a month or more between doses.

Most importantly, they need to know that it is safe to call an ambulance if a friend is unwell – they will not get into trouble from the police for making the call. People could be so much safer if they knew and practised a few basic rules.

Data from the Global Drug Survey makes it very clear that most people want to know how to use drugs more safely, and many seek out the right information. But many others won't be bothered to visit drug education sites like ours. Now imagine if simple, credible, information was available at venue and festival websites and was offered without fear of prejudice, losing their licence or closure?