Guernsey Press

Warning over high-strength MDMA after death in Jersey

A WARNING over the dangers of drug use has been issued after a man died in Jersey after he took MDMA.

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A 29-year-old man died from a suspected ‘severe reaction’ to MDMA in Jersey on Monday morning. Health & Social Care has advised anyone thinking of taking the substance to consider the fact that they are putting their health and wellbeing at significant risk. (25559136)

The death comes just days after authorities there had warned about high-strength ‘Skype’ MDMA tablets circulating in the island.

Health & Social Care has advised anyone thinking of taking the substance to consider that they are putting their health and wellbeing at significant risk.

‘MDMA [or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine] is a drug with a known potential to cause death and serious harm,’ an HSC spokesperson said.

‘The common side effects are hyperthermia – over-heating – and dehydration. Susceptible individuals or those taking large doses may experience more catastrophic events such as fatal hyponatremia – very low sodium levels – from excessive drinking of water to correct the dehydration.

‘This is along with the risks associated with being in possession of a Class A drug which under the Misuse of Drugs Legislation in Guernsey is an offence which carries significant penalties upon conviction.’

MDMA, better known as Ecstasy, presented in tablets can vary greatly in the amount of the active substance they contain.

Also, the manufacturing process can result in different tablets taking much longer to break down, meaning the effects being sought can be significantly delayed, making people believe they are taking a low-strength product and then multiple dosing to achieve the desired high, hence inadvertently taking a very significant amount and reaching a toxic level in the body.

The 29-year-old man died from a suspected ‘severe reaction’ to MDMA in Jersey on Monday morning. Paramedics had transferred the man to the hospital after a call-out to an address in St Helier in the early hours of Sunday and treated the man at the scene.

Following this, the police are said to have uncovered a ‘significant quantity’ of cannabis resin and MDMA at the address.

As of yet no link between the Skype-branded tablets and the death has been made and though the particular batch of this product has also not been reported to be present in Guernsey, all islanders are being urged to exercise caution.

Andrea Nightingale, the Drug & Strategy Coordinator, reiterated the message.

‘Please think about the risk to you and the damage to your body by taking a drug without any idea of the strength and the content,’ she said. ‘It really isn’t worth it.'