Dutch Alert Over Dangerous Trump-Shaped Ecstasy Pills

The Dutch Trimbos Institute, which focuses on addiction and mental health, has issued a “red alert” about ecstasy pills shaped like US President Donald Trump. Several of the pills were submitted to drug-testing centres in the Netherlands in August and were found to contain a very high concentration of PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, a substance related to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy. The institute strongly warned people not to take the pills, saying PMMA can cause overheating and potentially fatal consequences. Unlike MDMA, PMMA’s effects may take longer to appear and may lack the expected stimulating sensation. This can lead users to take more of the substance before the initial dose has taken effect, increasing the risk of overdose. Reported symptoms can include nausea, an elevated heart rate and convulsions, potentially occurring hours after ingestion. The pills feature Trump’s face on one side and the words “Trump” and “NL” on the other. Trimbos spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that there had been no reported deaths or serious illnesses among possible users connected to the pills. Although producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, the drug remains popular as a party substance. A 2024 government report said that a record 550,000 people had taken ecstasy at least once in 2022. The article also notes that Trump-themed ecstasy tablets are not new. In 2017, German police seized about 5,000 carrot-coloured pills shaped like Trump’s head. Authorities believed the tablets had been marketed online with the slogan “Trump makes partying great again.”

The Dutch Trimbos Institute, which focuses on drug addiction and mental health, has issued a “red alert” about ecstasy tablets shaped like US President Donald Trump’s head. Several of the pills were submitted to drug-testing centres in the Netherlands in August and were found to contain a very high concentration of PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine. The institute strongly warned people not to take them, saying the substance can cause overheating and potentially fatal health effects. PMMA is chemically similar to MDMA, the active ingredient commonly associated with ecstasy, but its effects develop later and may lack the expected stimulating sensation. This delay can lead users to take more of the drug, increasing the risk of overdose. Possible symptoms include nausea, a rapid heart rate and convulsions, which may appear hours after consumption. Trimbos spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that the institute had not received reports of deaths or serious illness among possible users. Nevertheless, the pills are illegal to produce, sell and use in the Netherlands. A 2024 Dutch government report said ecstasy remained a popular party drug, with a record 550,000 people reportedly taking it at least once in 2022. The tablets feature Trump’s face on one side and the words “Trump” and “NL” on the other. Trimbos released images showing two colour combinations: yellow and blue, and red and green. The pills are not the first Trump-themed ecstasy tablets. In 2017, German police seized approximately 5,000 carrot-coloured tablets shaped like Trump’s head, reportedly marketed online with the slogan “Trump makes partying great again.”

The Trimbos Institute, a Dutch organization focused on addiction and mental health, has issued a “Red Alert” warning about ecstasy pills designed to resemble President Donald Trump’s head. Several of the pills were recently submitted to the Netherlands’ drug-testing network, which allows users to have substances analyzed before taking them. Testing found that the pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, or para-methoxymethamphetamine, a chemical related to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy. According to the institute, PMMA contamination can be lethal. The drug’s effects may take longer to appear than those of MDMA, potentially leading users to take additional doses. That can result in dangerous overheating, epileptic seizures, loss of consciousness, or heart problems. The institute urged people not to use the Trump-shaped pills under any circumstances. Images released by Trimbos show green and yellow pills bearing a depiction of Trump’s head on one side. The reverse is stamped with “NL” and “Trump,” separated by a vertical line. The institute said it was not aware of any victims whose blood had tested positive for PMMA, although the warning remains serious. Ecstasy production, sale, and use are illegal in the Netherlands, but the drug remains widely used at clubs and music festivals. A 2024 government report estimated that approximately 550,000 people used ecstasy in the country during a single year. The Trimbos Institute conducts drug testing through a national network comprising 12 participating organizations and 34 testing locations, enabling it to identify potentially dangerous substances circulating among users.