"Red alert" issued over Donald Trump pills in the Netherlands

A Dutch drug safety organisation has issued a "red alert" over a batch of pills pressed in the shape of US President Donald Trump.

Utrecht-based research centre Trimbos Institute issued a warning after it detected "very high volumes" of PMMA in the pills, which are pressed in various colours with Trump's face on one side and "NL" embossed on the reverse.

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The pills were tested at a Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) testing centre, one of the world's oldest drug testing organisations, operating 34 centres across the Netherlands. It issues drug warnings via its "Red Alert" app.

PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, is chemically similar to MDMA, but carries a far higher risk of inducing drug toxicity when consumed. Due to its much steeper "dose response" curve than ecstasy, users can mistake its sometimes hours-long "come-up" for the pill not working and take more, leading to potentially fatal results.

"Taking this pill can lead to overheating with a possibly fatal result," the Trimbos Institute warned in an Instagram post shared on August 28. "This Trump pill is extremely dangerous. Use can lead to overheating, seizures, unconsciousness, and - in extreme cases - death."

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"Our urgent advice: do not use this pill under any circumstances, and have your drugs tested," says Laura Smit-Rigter, co-ordinator of the Drugs and Information Monitoring System at the Trimbos Institute.

"If anyone has taken this pill and is feeling severe side effects, then do not hesitate to contact emergency services and try to calm the person down as much as possible in the meantime," she continues.

Read the Trimbos Institute's full Instagram post below.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, get in touch with her here.