Dutch drug institute warns of lethal 'Trump' ecstasy pills containing PMMA
The pills, shaped like the U.S. President's head, contain high levels of the dangerous substance PMMA.
Quick Look
- The Trimbos Institute in the Netherlands has issued a red alert for ecstasy pills shaped like Donald Trump's head.
- The pills contain high levels of PMMA, a dangerous substance that can cause fatal overheating, and should not be consumed under any circumstances.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Trimbos Institute is a drug and addiction research center based in Utrecht. PMMA is a substance that resembles MDMA but carries significantly higher health risks.
An ecstasy pill shaped like the head of U.S. President Donald Trump is potentially lethal and should not be taken “under any circumstances,” a Dutch drug institute has warned.
The pills come in different colors, are shaped like the commander-in-chief’s head and are stamped with the words “Trump” and “NL,” according to a red alert issued by the Trimbos Institute, a drug and addiction research center based in Utrecht, on Friday.
It's currently not possible to know how many of the pills are in circulation, but "multiple" drug-testing locations have received them, Anniek Groothuis, a spokesperson for the institute, told POLITICO. Testers have previously encountered pills shaped like Superman logos or featuring car brands, Groothuis said.
The institute warned that the pills contain a very high amount of a substance called para-methoxymethamphetamine, or PMMA.
Though closely resembling MDMA — the active ingredient in ecstasy pills, which are used by some clubbers and fueled the rave scene in the 1980s and 1990s — PMMA is much more dangerous, the institute warned.
Hours after taking PMMA, symptoms such as nausea, increased heart rate, convulsions and an extremely elevated body temperature can “suddenly occur,” it said. Taking the pill can lead to “overheating with potentially fatal consequences,” though a spokesperson told the Associated Press that there have been no reported cases of death or serious illness among possible users so far.
Trump himself is famously teetotal, and described cocaine as "down and dirty" in an interview with podcaster Theo Von before the 2024 election. The White House recently launched a drug control strategy.
Open Questions
- Are these pills being distributed outside of the Netherlands?
- What is the source of the illicit manufacturing?
