When a person purchases ecstasy from a dealer or obtains it from a friend, there is no guarantee that they will be actually buying ecstasy. In fact, it could be something completely different or it could be mixed with something else. Many times speed is given instead of ecstasy for whatever reason. It might also be mixed with drugs such as PCP, the aforementioned speed, DXM or PMA. This is why ecstasy can be so dangerous. It is possible to take a lethal dosage of something that is not ecstasy at all, totally unbe-known to the user.

Therefore, not only is ecstasy use not recommended, buying it from individuals that a user does not know is very dangerous.  Not only may the user fall ill but they could end up taking a substance that ends up being lethal.  It can be impossible to tell whether or not a substance is actually ecstasy unless a person has a testing kit.  Otherwise, the only way that a person can really tell if they have been given ecstasy until after the fact, and by then, it could be too late.

In some countries, clubs may have an ecstasy testing kit on hand. These are available to club goers so that they can ensure that what they are taking is actually ecstasy.  However, the likelihood that most people will actually go to a party or club where there are ecstasy kits is pretty slim. Though kits are legal in many places, if a person has one, the likelihood that he or she has drugs too, is pretty high. If busted, this could mean jail time.  

So, are there dangers associated with using ecstasy? The answer is a resounding yes. Individuals that take it put themselves at risk for overdose, dehydration (due to hard partying for example at raves), out of character activity due to lowered inhibitions and even death.

Is it possible to die from an ecstasy?  Yes, it is possible to die from an ecstasy overdose.  Often time, this is because the pills taken are mixed with some other drug. A person consuming too much alcohol combined with ecstasy can also prove fatal.  Alcohol poisoning by itself can also lead to death.

Some ecstasy related deaths also occur due to it over-consumption of water. Some people in an attempt to balance the effect of the drug or to avoid an overdose may drink too much water.  Though it may not be common knowledge, drinking too much water can cause death.  Mixing ecstasy with other types of drugs is also a very dangerous and can potentially be lethal.