UTRECHT — The Trimbos Institute issued a “red alert” warning users about ecstasy pills shaped like the head of U.S. President Donald Trump. The drug addiction and mental health institute identified the tablets as containing dangerous levels of a chemical that poses severe health risks.

Several of the pills were handed in at testing centres in August. Laboratory analysis determined that the pills contained a “very high” amount of the chemical PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine.

"Do not use this pill under any circumstance," the institute said in its warning. The agency emphasized the urgency of the advisory by stating, “Absolutely do not use these pills.” The institute cautioned that the drug could cause “overheating with potentially fatal consequences.” It further stated that use of the pills “can lead to overheating with possibly deadly consequences.”

PMMA is a substance similar to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy pills. “However, the effect occurs later, and the stimulating effect is often absent,” the institute advised. The institute stated that PMMA is slower working than MDMA, which could lead users to take more because they think the first pill did not work, leading to a risk of overdosing. “This increases the risk of overdose,” the institute advised.

Users are warned they could experience symptoms such as nausea, an increased heart rate and convulsions hours after ingesting the pills. The visual identification of the tablets relies on specific markings and colors. The pills feature a depiction of Trump's face on one side and the words “Trump” and “NL” stamped on the other.

The NL stamp indicates the Netherlands. One of the pills has a green face and another is yellow. The institute released images of two pills, one yellow and blue, and the other red and green.

Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis provided clarification regarding the current impact of these specific tablets. She said the institute had no reported cases of death or serious illness among possible users. Producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands.

Timeline

In 2017, German police confiscated about 5,000 carrot-coloured ecstasy tablets in the shape of the US president's head. In 2017, German police seized thousands of orange Trump-shaped tablets. A 2024 Dutch government report said that in 2022, a record 550,000 people had taken the drug at least once.

What's New

Additional reporting provided further details on the nature of the warning and the status of casualties. "We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood," spokesperson Anniek Groothuis. The institute expanded its advisory language, warning, “Absolutely do not use these pills.”

The institute warned that the pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine. A 2024 Dutch government report said that some 550,000 people took the drug in a year.

Why It Matters

The red alert shows the persistent danger of adulterated substances in the illicit drug market, specifically those containing PMMA instead of or in addition to MDMA. The slow-acting nature of PMMA creates a specific mechanism for accidental overdose, as users may consume additional doses believing the initial amount was ineffective. This dynamic transforms a standard recreational risk into a potentially fatal situation due to delayed physiological responses such as overheating and convulsions.

The appearance of these pills connects to a documented pattern of politically themed narcotics. The seizure of thousands of similar Trump-shaped tablets by German police in 2017 demonstrates that such novelty designs have circulated in Europe for years. With a 2024 Dutch government report indicating that 550,000 people used the drug in 2022, the potential user base exposed to these high-concentration PMMA pills remains significant despite the illegality of production and sale in the Netherlands.