A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a “Red Alert” regarding potentially lethal ecstasy pills shaped to resemble the head of U.S. President Donald Trump. The Trimbos Institute stated that several of these pills have recently been submitted to its network of drug-testing centers.
"Absolutely do not use these pills," the institute advised. The pills, pictured in yellow and green variations, feature Trump's likeness on one side and "NL" and "Trump" stamped on the other.
According to the institute, the pills contain a high concentration of para-methoxymethamfetamine (PMMA), a chemical similar to MDMA, the primary active ingredient in ecstasy. PMMA works more slowly than MDMA, which could lead users to consume more of the drug believing the initial dose was ineffective. This increases the risk of overdose, potentially leading to overheating with fatal consequences, the institute warned.
As of Friday, the institute had no reported cases of serious illness or fatalities specifically linked to PMMA, according to spokesperson Anniek Groothuis. She stated that the institute is unaware of any victims where PMMA was detected in their blood.
While ecstasy use is illegal in the Netherlands, it is prevalent, particularly at clubs and music festivals. A government report from 2024 indicated that approximately 550,000 people had used the drug within a year.
This is not the first instance of Trump-shaped ecstasy pills appearing; German police seized thousands of orange tablets of this design in 2017.