World News
Dutch health institute issues alert over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills containing PMMA
The Trimbos Institute warned that the pills contain high concentrations of a slow-acting chemical that poses a severe risk of overdose.
The short version
- The Trimbos Institute in the Netherlands has issued a "Red Alert" warning the public not to consume ecstasy pills shaped like the head of U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Testing revealed the pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, a chemical similar to MDMA but slower-acting, which increases the risk of accidental overdose and potentially lethal overheating.
- No serious illnesses or fatalities associated with these specific pills have been reported to the institute.
Key facts
- The Trimbos Institute, a Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute, issued a "Red Alert" after several Trump-shaped pills were submitted to drug-testing centers.[Associated Press]
- The pills feature a depiction of Donald Trump's head on one side, with "NL" and "Trump" stamped on the other.[Associated Press]
- Laboratory analysis showed the pills contain a high concentration of para-methoxymethamfetamine (PMMA) rather than MDMA.[Associated Press]
- Because PMMA takes longer to take effect than MDMA, users may ingest additional doses under the mistaken belief that the first dose was ineffective, risking a fatal overdose.[Associated Press]
- While ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, a 2024 government report estimated that approximately 550,000 people in the country use the drug annually.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown if anyone has suffered health consequences from these specific pills, as the Trimbos Institute has not received reports of related illnesses, deaths, or PMMA detections in patients' blood.[Associated Press]