Warning issued to people attending Glastonbury over ‘super-strength’ ecstasy pills

A warning has been issued to anyone attending Glastonbury this weekend over concerns of 'super-strength' ecstasy pills.

As the iconic festival is set to get underway tomorrow (26 June), excited attendees will be packing their essentials for the long weekend and hoping the sunny weather sticks around for a little longer.

However, a charity has issued a warning to anyone considering taking drugs at the festival - revealing that particularly potent drugs have re-entered the market this summer.

Following research conducted at Manchester's Parklife festival, The Loop discovered ecstasy pills containing up to 300mg of MDMA were on the market, whereas the average strength is now thought to be around 181mg.

This means the average strength in pills is also thought to be returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The increase in strength could be specifically dangerous to younger festival-goers who may not have the tolerance for the stronger drugs.

The Loop conducted tests on over 150 samples of drugs labelled as ecstasy and discovered that only 2 percent didn't contain any MDMA. This is a significant change from pills on the market in 2021, which often didn't contain any of the substance.

It's these types of pills that The Loop is worried about when it comes to young people at festivals.

"It is younger and less experienced festival-goers who came of age during Covid and never experienced the super-strength pills of the 2010s who are particularly at risk," Prof Fiona Measham, founder of The Loop, said per The Guardian.

The report coincides with The Loop launching their #TakeQuarterSipWater campaign, which is urging anyone considering taking drugs to start with a lower dose than previously.

"The Loop is running a harm reduction campaign, directed at people who take ecstasy, as our testing this summer has found an increase in the number of high strength pills in circulation," a spokesperson for the charity said to LADbible.

"Some of the pills tested contain 3x a common adult dose, which is why it is safer for someone to take a quarter than a full pill."

The campaign has also highlighted that different coloured pills sold as ecstasy or MDMA can contain different amounts of the drug depending on appearance, adding that it's not always possible to gauge the potency of a tablet from its weight or colour either.

Of course, the safest option is to avoid taking the pills altogether. However, The Loop recognises that this won't be the case for everyone and has provided guidance to avoid overdosing.

The Loop's testing suggests the MDMA market is changing:
*Average pill strength increased to >180mg MDMA
*The proportion of stronger pills increased to >1 in 10 with 250+mg
*Bigger pills often indicate high strength & the need for extra caution#SizeMatters#TakeQuarterSipWater pic.twitter.com/A1NbZx9tRg

— The Loop (@WeAreTheLoopUK) June 25, 2024

"The safest option is not to take pills. However, if someone is going to take them, it is safer to start with a quarter," Adam Waugh, training coordinator of The Loop, said.

"Wait at least 90 minutes before re-dosing, and do not assume that pills of a similar design have the same contents. Should you end up having an unexpected reaction to ecstasy or MDMA this summer, The Loop has told users to seek out the festival's 'medical or welfare tent' for support.

Signs someone may be having an adverse reaction to ecstasy include being very hot to the touch, having rigid muscles or appearing confused or disoriented.

If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week