Dutch institute issues warning over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8z9084d00o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8z9084d00o)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8z9084d00o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8z9084d00o)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcy8z9084d00o)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (cy8z9084d00o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) Africa   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia) Asia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/latin_america) Latin America   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           Dutch institute issues 'red alert' over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills      (Front and back picture of an ecstasy pill in the shape of US President Donald Trump's head. The green front is a depiction of Trump's face carved into the pill; the back, in red, features the word "NL" carved at the top of a break line under which is stamped the word "Trump")    Image source,  Trimbos Institute  Image caption,  "Do not use this pill under any circumstance," the institute warned       By Rorey Bosotti     Published 1 hour ago           A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a "red alert" to users about potentially lethal ecstasy pills in the shape of US President Donald Trump's head.  The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute said several of the pills had been handed in at testing centres in August and were found to contain a "very high" amount of the chemical PMMA. "Do not use this pill under any circumstance," the institute said in its warning, cautioning that the drug could cause "overheating with potentially fatal consequences". It issued images of the pills, which feature a depiction of Trump's head on one side and the words "Trump" and "NL" stamped on the other. PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, 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. "This increases the risk of overdose." Users are being warned they could experience symptoms such as nausea, an increased heart rate and convulsions hours after ingesting the pills. Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that it had no reported cases of death or serious illness among possible users. While producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, a 2024 Dutch government report said the substance was "still quite popular as a party drug". The report added that, in 2022, a "record 550,000 people" had taken the drug at least once. This is not the first time Donald Trump's facial features appear to have been used as inspiration for the shape of ecstasy pills. In 2017, German police confiscated about (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41015254) 5,000 carrot-coloured ecstasy tablets in the shape of the US president's head – which they believed had been promoted on the internet under the slogan "Trump makes partying great again".      (Composite pictures of two versions of the same pill. At the top is the front and back picture of an ecstasy pill in the shape of US President Donald Trump's head. The green front is a depiction of Trump's face carved into the pill; the back, in red, features the word "NL" carved at the top of a break line under which is stamped the word "Trump". 
At the bottom of the image is the same pill but in yellow and blue)    Image source,  Trimbos Institute  Image caption,  The institute released images of two pills - one yellow and blue, and the other red and green       Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cvenzmgywd2t) Netherlands  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cp7r8vgl2lgt) Donald Trump  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe           (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         0:29 How much light are we currently losing in the UK? 00:00:29, play video How much light are we currently losing in the UK?    (A sunset over water)           1:27 Are older and younger generations in conflict? 00:01:27, play video Are older and younger generations in conflict?    (A woman with blonde hair wearing a blue shirt sits in front of a microphone)           1:18 Our dog's death left 'a big empty hole in our lives' 00:01:18, play video Our dog's death left 'a big empty hole in our lives'    (A woman with long brown hair talks to someone off-camera)           0:48 Model's photos used to catfish women. 00:00:48, play video Model's photos used to catfish women    (A shirtless man looks at the camera)           1:29 The inventor who refused to take no for an answer. 00:01:29, play video The inventor who refused to take no for an answer    (A woman with grey curly hair holds a cardboard bowl and smiles at the camera)           1:07 How will Norway's King Harald be remembered? 00:01:07, play video How will Norway's King Harald be remembered?    (A black and white photo of King Harald V in uniform. Flowers are surrounding the photo)           1:01 E-bike and e-scooter fires cause 18 deaths. 00:01:01, play video E-bike and e-scooter fires cause 18 deaths    (Stills from CCTV footage of an e-scooter on fire inside a flat.)           1:07 NHS warns of chaos in ADHD and autism care in England. 00:01:07, play video NHS warns of chaos in ADHD and autism care in England    (Woman in yellow jumper speaking to doctor holding iPad)           0:52 Ronnie O'Sullivan mural splits opinion. 00:00:52, play video Ronnie O'Sullivan mural splits opinion    (A mural of Ronnie O'Sullivan)           0:59 Late Norwegian King remembered as a 'grandfather' to the nation. 00:00:59, play video Late Norwegian King remembered as a 'grandfather' to the nation    (A woman appears upset)           0:35 Rain and thunder forecast for Bank Holiday weekend. 00:00:35, play video Rain and thunder forecast for Bank Holiday weekend    (A woman in a red coat walks in the rain)           1:25 Serial rapist police officer passed vetting despite warnings. 00:01:25, play video Serial rapist police officer passed vetting despite warnings    (A man with close-cropped hair looks into the camera with a blank expression)           0:55 Lake Ontario to Lake America: Can Trump rename it? 00:00:55, play video Lake Ontario to Lake America: Can Trump rename it?    (A map labelling Lake Ontario as "Lake America" is displayed)           0:48 Kane discusses his Ballon d'Or chances. 00:00:48, play video Kane discusses his Ballon d'Or chances    (Harry Kane appears to look towards a cut-out of the Ballon d'Or, in a composite image)           1:16 GTA 6: What we still don't know after the preview. 00:01:16, play video GTA 6: What we still don't know after the preview    (The female and male characters from the new Grand Theft Auto 6 game.)           1:07 What are the symptoms of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder? 00:01:07, play video What are the symptoms of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder?    (A person wearing a yellow and black striped tops bends the fingers on their hand back)           0:58 '£790 for jeans': How much is too much? 00:00:58, play video '£790 for jeans': How much is too much?    (Man with short dark hair wearing a blue shirt.)           0:29 Where does salmonella get its name? 00:00:29, play video Where does salmonella get its name?    (Salmonella bacteria)           0:59 What caused the Nepal-Tibet flash floods? 00:00:59, play video What caused the Nepal-Tibet flash floods?    (Flooded town.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr0qxd1y219kt)     Live.    Nepal warns of new flood risk as hard-hit border region turns to 'swampland'     4604 viewing 4.6k viewing             (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cj64kgrpgjdo) 97-year-old woman rescued after Nepali floods looked like 'a warrior'     Published 13 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2z415w2gpo) Footage of Tibet floods isn't being shown in China - and we know little about victims there     Published 6 hours ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwlrrzp8eeo) How 'Book Queen' Dolly Parton inspired millions of children with gift of reading      (Dolly Parton sits holding a purple children's book with her pink fingernails, wearing a bright yellow suit and matching chunky jewelry against a childlike backdrop with stars and a googly-eyed pillow)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdvvp07dzo) Sweetcorn ice creams and pastries: The latest 'swavoury' trend taking over your feed      (A stylised image showing corn and various pieces of fruit)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y5jqly153o) How one of the 'most powerful hacks' to control stress actually works      (Person wearing a plain white T-shirt standing in the foreground with one hand placed on their chest. Their eyes are closed and a wristwatch is visible on one wrist. The background consists of a plain grey wall, with directional light creating areas of shadow across the wall and part of the upper body.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgw7xj698lo) We helped create UK emergency alert system - but question how government is using it      (A man in a black and orange chequered shirt with bald hair stands in front of water, in a composite plit image next to a man holding a phone with a UK government emergency alert on it.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyx0gzynneo) Hypermobility - the little-known 'bendy disease' that causes pain and fatigue      (Ella Kipling, a young woman with long dark hair, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a long, white dress with black polkadots and is standing in front of a large park with old buildings in the background.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8d3m019g2no) 'I thought diet clubs weren't for men'      (Two photos of Mark Hall. On the left he is walking onto a football pitch wearing a blue football kit. On the right he is smiling straight at the camera, holding a trophy ad wearing a black jumper over a green football top.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl74j7jdlno) 'Healey to defer defence spend target' and 'Fergie's coming home'      (A composite of the front pages of the FT and the Sun on 29 August 2026.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9qrleezvp2o) Embroidery on display as town celebrates conqueror      (Panels from the Hastings Embroidery are displayed inside Hastings Town Hall, showing embroidered scenes including historical figures, ships, landscapes and events from different periods of history.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zkp3wsg) Royal Watch: Get the latest royal stories and analysis with Sean Coughlan’s weekly newsletter      (Royal watch logo)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0114hg9?at_mid=lV346iyg3W&at_campaign=The_Smoking_Room&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=p00t3dm6&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Smoking_Room&at_bbc_team=BBC) Low-key noughties sitcom starring Robert Webb and Paula Wilcox        (The Smoking Room)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m003168j?at_mid=JUCsWBJ4zt&at_campaign=Desert_Island_Discs_Postcards_Keith_Richards&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=b006qnmr&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Desert_Island_Discs_Postcards_Keith_Richards&at_bbc_team=BBC) Keith Richards recalls how he wrote the iconic 'Satisfaction'        (Desert Island Discs: Postcards)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00303ft?at_mid=iCQbYPAW1f&at_campaign=The_Marlow_Murder_Club_S1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m00303fr&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Marlow_Murder_Club_S1&at_bbc_team=BBC) An unlikely gang set out to catch a killer who shattered rural peace        (The Marlow Murder Club)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8m96?at_mid=sGbVmVbNl0&at_campaign=The_Global_Story_Did_Emily_ruin_Paris&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=w13xtvsd&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Global_Story_Did_Emily_ruin_Paris&at_bbc_team=BBC&at_creation=News) Did Emily ruin Paris?        (The Global Story)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c158939pz4do) Christian festival 'devastated' after man's death       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99dvm39mreo) Landlady to 9/11 hijackers reveals their links to alleged Saudi spy       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y5jqly153o) How one of the 'most powerful hacks' to control stress actually works       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyrv84yd9ko) The race to stop England running out of water       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn45vdxyvvlo) Close race as Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2z415w2gpo) Footage of Tibet floods isn't being shown in China - and we know little about victims there       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgw7xj698lo) We helped create UK emergency alert system - but question how government is using it       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl74j7jdlno) 'Healey to defer defence spend target' and 'Fergie's coming home'       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c750ng9grk0o) Charli XCX electrifies Reading Festival with era-spanning set       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2zlwe7qj1o) Trump hails 'historic' deal for US to control 65bn barrels of Venezuela's oil               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()