Trump-shaped party pills trigger red alert in Netherlands PHOTO

A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a “red alert” warning over potentially lethal ecstasy pills shaped to resemble US President Donald Trump.

The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute said several of the tablets were submitted to drug-testing centres in August and were found to contain a “very high” concentration of PMMA, a substance related to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy.

“Do not use this pill under any circumstances,” the institute said, warning that the substance could cause “overheating with potentially fatal consequences”.

Images released by the institute show pills bearing an image of Trump’s face on one side, with the words “Trump” and “NL” stamped on the other.

PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, has effects similar to MDMA, but the Trimbos Institute said its effects generally take longer to appear and its stimulating effect is often absent.

“However, the effect occurs later, and the stimulating effect is often absent,” the institute said. “This increases the risk of overdose.”

People who ingest the pills could develop symptoms including nausea, an increased heart rate and convulsions several hours later, the institute warned.

Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that no deaths or serious illnesses had been reported among people who may have taken the pills.

The production, sale and use of ecstasy are illegal in the Netherlands. However, a 2024 Dutch government report said the drug was “still quite popular as a party drug”. In 2022, a “record 550,000 people” had taken ecstasy at least once, according to the report.

Trump's likeness has previously been used as inspiration for ecstasy tablets. In 2017, German police seized about 5,000 carrot-coloured tablets shaped like the US president's head. Authorities believed the pills had been promoted online under the slogan “Trump makes partying great again”.

By Tamilla Hasanova