TheDenverChannel.com










Denver News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters

Ecstasy Death Caused By 'Water Intoxication'

Coroner Says Boulder Teen Drank Too Much Water

A Boulder county teen died from drinking too much water, triggered by her consumption of ecstasy, the Boulder County coroner said Friday.

Coroner John Meyer said that the drug is the cause of death but that it led to a "cascade of events" that eventually caused Brittney Chambers (pictured, below) to lapse into a coma and die.

Brittney died Feb. 2 when her family removed her from life support, six days after her 16th birthday party, where she swallowed an ecstasy pill allegedly provided to her by friends.

"Without ingestion of the drug, there is no reason to believe that Miss Chambers would have other complications," Meyer said. "The thing that makes this drug dangerous, in my mind, is the unpredictability."

According to Meyer, Brittney repeatedly told friends at the party that she was thirsty. Three or four empty 16-ounce water bottles, which friends reportedly said were refilled several times, were found in Brittney's bathroom.

Meyer said Brittney suffered from "water intoxication."

Also known as hyponatremia, drinking excessive amounts of water can dilute the blood, cause abnormally low concentrations of sodium ions in the blood, leading to swelling of the brain. That swelling can lead to grave consequences, including coma and death.

Additional Resources:

Previous Stories:


Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter. More

Don’t believe everything people tell you about home improvement. Check out the top 4 myths and stop throwing away your money. More

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

Living well with type-1 or type-2 diabetes can be easier than you might think. Use our diabetes resource guide. More

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network
Sponsored Links

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network