NSW Health officials issue urgent warning after double-dose MDMA tablets found in circulation

Deadly MDMA pills containing twice the average dose are circulating in an Australian state as authorities issue an urgent warning as the festive season gets underway.

NSW Health said three types of MDMA tablets are being sold across the state, some containing a dangerous concoction of other drugs.

The reported pills include a blue, diamond-shaped pill stamped with the Marvel Comics character “Punisher,” a yellow pill stamped with the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, and a blue skull-shaped tablet stamped with the “MYBRAND” logo.

Both the Punisher and MYBRAND pills contain 216 mg of ketamine, while the SpongeBob pills contain 160 mg.

Some MDMA tablets contain a dangerous combination of other drugs such as cathinones, ketamine and ketamine analogues.

NSW Poison Information Center medical director Dr Darren Roberts said high doses of ketamine had been linked to recent deaths in NSW.

“MDMA can cause severe agitation, increased body temperature, seizures or seizures, irregular heartbeat, and death,” Dr. Roberts said.

“The amount of MDMA in a tablet or capsule can vary considerably, even within the same batch. The health risks of MDMA are significantly increased if large quantities (including multiple doses) are consumed over a short period of time.

NSW Health said three types of MDMA tablets are being sold across the state, some containing a dangerous concoction of other drugs.

The medical director said MDMA was even more dangerous when mixed with other stimulants such as amphetamines, cocaine or cathinones.

Dr Roberts warned music festival attendees this summer to take regular breaks as MDMA can cause the body to overheat.

“Taking a break from dancing, seeking shade and drinking water are important measures to reduce the risk of overheating,” he said.

“It is very important to remember that if you or a friend have taken drugs and are not feeling well, you will not have problems seeking medical attention. »

The warning comes after two men, aged 21 and 26, died from suspected overdoses after attending the Knockout festival at Sydney Olympic Park on October 2.

Nine other festival-goers were taken to hospital.

Up to 27 people at the Knockout festival were charged with drug possession, while four were charged with drug supply.

Police said a 21-year-old man had up to 491 MDMA tablets in his possession.

Some MDMA tablets contain a dangerous combination of other drugs like cathinones, ketamine and ketamine analogues (pictured, revelers at Field Day festival in Sydney)

Attendees at music festivals this summer have been urged to take regular breaks as MDMA can cause the body to overheat (stock image)

The same month, 85 people attending the Listen Out festival at Sydney’s Centennial Park were charged with drug possession and eight people with drug supply.

The accusations come despite amnesty bins being set up at festivals to allow revelers to get rid of drugs without fear of arrest.

The policy was introduced as a recommendation from a 2020 coronial inquest into the deaths of six young people at music festivals in New South Wales between December 2017 and January 2019.

Alex Ross-King, 19, Joshua Tam, 22, Callum Brosnan, 21, Diana Nguyen, 21, Joseph Pham, 23 all died at festivals after taking MDMA or ecstasy.

Five of the six festival-goers also had other illegal substances in their system.

The inquiry also recommended other strategies, including pill testing, abandoning the use of sniffer dogs and reducing the number of strip searches.

However, the NSW Government has yet to adopt the recommendations.