June 25th 2024.
At this year's Glastonbury festival, attendees are being warned about the potential danger of super-strength ecstasy pills. The drug charity, The Loop, has raised concerns after testing pills at other festivals and finding dangerously high levels of MDMA. These pills have been reported to contain over 300mg of MDMA, which is three times the usual adult dose. As festival-goers make their way to Worthy Farm in Somerset for the highly anticipated event, they are being urged to be cautious and aware of the potential risks.
According to The Guardian, those who are not accustomed to taking higher strength pills and younger festival-goers may be at a higher risk of being affected by these super-strength drugs. The charity discovered these pills during drug checking at Manchester's Parklife festival and in Bristol. The average strength of pills has also returned to pre-pandemic levels, making it easier for people to be caught off guard.
Adam Waugh, the training coordinator for The Loop, advises people to err on the side of caution and abstain from taking pills altogether. However, for those who do choose to take them, he suggests starting with a quarter of a pill and waiting at least 90 minutes before taking more. He also warns against assuming that pills with similar designs will have the same content or strength.
In anticipation of Glastonbury, The Loop has launched its campaign #TakeQuarterSipWater, highlighting the dangers of high strength MDMA. The charity explains that festival settings in the UK pose a unique risk for drug use, with people often taking larger quantities and over longer periods of time, while also combining drugs with alcohol and other factors that can increase the risks.
The Loop has also made history by obtaining the first ever license from the Home Office for onsite festival testing. This comes after last year's controversy where the charity was not allowed to carry out testing at Parklife. It's important to note that ecstasy remains an illegal class A drug in the UK, with severe penalties for possession and distribution.
So far this year, The Loop has tested 150 products purchased as MDMA, with alarming results. Not only did some pills contain over 300mg of MDMA, but one in ten pills tested were over 250mg, which is at least twice the adult dose. This is the first time since before the pandemic that pills with such high levels of MDMA have been found. The charity also stresses the importance of taking breaks from dancing and staying hydrated while using MDMA, as it can raise body temperature and lead to dangerous situations.
The dangers of super-strength drugs were tragically highlighted two years ago when 16-year-old David Celino died at Leeds Festival after possibly taking MDMA. According to reports, he had consumed one and a half ecstasy pills. The Loop's warning and campaign are a crucial reminder to festival-goers to be mindful of the risks associated with drug use and to prioritize their safety.
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