Dangerous Donald Trump-Shaped Ecstasy Pills Trigger 'Red Alert' in the Netherlands

A Dutch health and addiction institute has issued an urgent "red alert" regarding potentially lethal ecstasy pills modeled after US President Donald Trump.

The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute sounded the alarm after several of these tablets were submitted to testing centers in August. Laboratory analysis revealed that the orange-hued pills contain a dangerously high concentration of para-methoxymethamfetamine, commonly known as PMMA.

A High Risk of Overdose

Warning the public not to consume the substance under any circumstances, the institute cautioned that the chemical can cause severe overheating with potentially fatal consequences.

While PMMA is chemically similar to MDMA—the primary active ingredient in traditional ecstasy—it behaves quite differently in the human body. The health institute explained that the drug's effects take longer to appear and lack the expected stimulating buzz. This delayed reaction frequently leads users to mistakenly take a second dose, significantly increasing the risk of an accidental overdose.

Ingesting PMMA can cause dangerous symptoms hours later, including severe nausea, a racing heart rate, and convulsions. Fortunately, Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis stated that no fatalities or severe illnesses linked to these specific pills have been reported so far.

A Familiar Trend in Illicit Drug Design

The newly flagged tablets feature a clear depiction of Donald Trump's face on one side, with the words "Trump" and "NL" stamped onto the reverse.

While the production, sale, and consumption of ecstasy remain illegal in the Netherlands, a government report highlights that the substance remains a popular party drug, with an estimated 550,000 people having used it at least once in recent years.

This is not the first time the likeness of the American leader has been used by illicit drug manufacturers. Back in 2017, German police seized roughly 5,000 carrot-colored ecstasy tablets shaped like President Trump's head, which were reportedly marketed online using the slogan "Trump makes partying great again."