Warning: This article contains discussion of drug use and death which some readers may find distressing.
The parents of an 18-year-old who died on his lads’ holiday have issued a stark warning.
Ryan Long had headed out to Ibiza with his mates on 2 July and before even unpacking their bags, the group went straight for a night out.
But his mum and dad believe he took MDMA (also known as Ecstasy or Molly) while in a club, causing him to fall ill.
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A class A drug in the UK, it’s a common party drug and carries a number of dangers to a person’s health. MDMA is usually powdered while Ecstasy is typically found in pill form.
The teenage footballer from Essex became unwell on the night, collapsing when getting out of a taxi back and slipping into a coma.
What happened to Ryan Long?
Ryan’s mates attempted to put him in the recovery position and an ambulance was called. At first, his friends had feared he was having a reaction due to his nut allergy or that he had been spiked.
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"Once he'd got into the hospital, the doctor phoned us and said it wasn't great. It was his heart and his kidneys. He was on dialysis and having transfusions," his mum Angela said, as the parents were asked to get there as soon as possible.
Ryan was set for a liver transplant but it became clear he wouldn’t survive due to him going into septic shock and suffering a brain haemorrhage.
The teen was with his family when he passed away on 8 July.
What is his parents’ warning?
Having lost their son, Angela and Adrian are warning other young people going on their first holidays with pals to be vigilant when it comes to drugs.
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“We’ve sat out boys down many a time and told them not to take drugs,” the mum said, “I just can’t get my head around it.”
Adrian is reminding young people that they’re not ‘invincible’ as he’ll ‘never forget’ what’s happened to Ryan.
“You don’t know what’s there or what people are trying to give you,” the dad warned. “You can drum it into them many times but hopefully people will think twice. It is the height of the season now and everyone will be going out there.
“In that environment, they’re away from home, the adrenaline is going, and they just don’t think.”
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Angela added: “The devastation they leave behind, it is not worth it. His mates that tended to him are traumatised from what they’ve been through.”
Key dangers of MDMA
When in pill form, the amount of MDMA is extremely variable and it’s likely to have been mixed with other drugs alongside ecstasy which can therefore cause other, more dangerous, effects.
According to the NHS, the drug can cause significant or extreme fevers, potentially leading to severe dehydration and organ failure.
MDMA can also bring on abnormal heart rhythms (leading to heart damage and cause stroke, memory impairment, kidney failure and mental health issues.
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There is also the risk of developing a dependence and addiction to the drug, leading to larger consumption and therefore an increased risk to health.
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
Jess Battison