Authorities in the Netherlands have issued a warning about ecstasy pills shaped like Donald Trump that contain a potentially lethal ingredient, PMMA, which could lead to overdose.
The Trimbos Institute, a prominent drug treatment and mental health center in the Netherlands, has issued a red alert regarding ecstasy pills shaped like the head of former President Donald Trump. The institute cautioned that these pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, or para-methoxymethamphetamine, which is chemically similar to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, but has a slower onset of effects.
The slow-acting nature of PMMA can lead users to consume more of the substance, increasing the risk of overdose. The Trimbos Institute shared images of the pills, which feature a green front and a yellow back, with red and blue coloring on the reverse side. The pills prominently display a likeness of Trump’s face, along with the name “Trump” and the letters “NL” on the back.
“Absolutely do not use these pills,” the institute advised in its warning.
This is not the first instance of Trump-shaped ecstasy pills surfacing in the drug market. In 2018, Indiana State Police seized orange pills resembling Trump’s face during an operation aimed at small-time drug traffickers. Those pills also featured the phrase “great again” on the back, a nod to Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
In 2017, German authorities confiscated thousands of orange Trump-shaped ecstasy pills, valued at nearly $46,000. Despite the alarming nature of these findings, there have been no reported cases of overdoses or fatalities linked to these specific pills, according to Trimbos spokesperson Anniek Groothuis.
<p”We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood,” Groothuis stated, emphasizing the importance of awareness regarding the dangers of these substances.
The Trimbos Institute noted that the pills were recently submitted to its testing centers, where drugs are analyzed before consumption. While ecstasy remains illegal in the Netherlands, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals use the drug annually, highlighting the ongoing challenges of drug safety and public health.
As concerns grow over the potential dangers of these Trump-shaped pills, the Trimbos Institute continues to advocate for harm reduction and informed decision-making among users.
For more information, refer to the Associated Press.