Gardaí have said they are “extremely keen” to warn members of the public about dangerous batches of ecstasy-type tablets linked to a number of recent deaths.
The HSE issued a health alert about the drugs yesterday after they were linked to the deaths of two people in the previous four days, as well as a number of other deaths and hospitalisations in the last four weeks.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said today there were no further updates on the matter.
In a statement, gardaí advised anyone engaged in drug-taking to avoid green pills stamped with an apple or the Rolex logo, as well as white pills carrying a Mitsubishi logo.
The statement warned of the risks associated with drug-taking generally, but said there was a “particular concern” in relation to these drugs.
"Although there are inherent dangers in the misuse of any drugs, there is a particular concern at this time regarding a substance which has been found in ecstasy tablets in Ireland and across Europe in recent times," said the statement.
The substance is suspected to be Paramethoxymethylamphetamine (PMMA) or Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA).
The key ingredient in traditional ecstasy tablets is Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA). Evidence has shown PMA and PMMA differ from MDMA as the onset of the drug is slower, meaning that people are known to take more to achieve the feeling that they may expect from traditional ecstasy tablets.
“There have already been a number of deaths where this substance has been implicated in this jurisdiction,” said the Garda statement. “We and the HSE are extremely keen to make people aware of the dangers of this substance so that further deaths can be avoided.
“The reality is that even aside from the three aforementioned pills known at this time to contain PMMA, other pills that come onto the illicit drug market may also contain this dangerous substance.”
PMMA can cause a rapidly increased heart rate, extremely high body temperatures, respiratory failure and sometimes death.
It was cited as having played a role in the deaths of Liam Coffey (22) and Michael Coleman (22) at their rented house at Mandeville Terrace on AbbeyLane in Kinsale, Co Cork on September 9th, 2012. An inquest into the deaths of the two young friends from Co Waterford heard they died as a result of the ingestion of MDMA and PMMA.
The statement added the Garda and the HSE are particularly keen to inform members of the public about the drugs ahead of the summer months and upcoming music festivals.
For support around drug and alcohol use, the HSE drugs and alcohol helpline is available from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm. The service is confidential and has both a freephone helpline (1800459459) and an email support service (helpline@hse.ie).
