Tens of thousands are preparing to storm the Domain in Sydney for the annual New Year’s Day dance party. In the wake of these exciting developments, health authorities have issued an important danger warning about dangerously high-dose MDMA tablets now widely in circulation across New South Wales. Angela Chiew, a clinical toxicologist at the NSW Poisons Information Centre, warned of the deadly consequences of taking these highly concentrated pills. They can lead to serious health emergencies.
Signs of MDMA toxicity include extreme agitation, hyperthermia, seizure, and arrhythmia. Recent reports indicate that tablets containing approximately 140mg of MDMA are nearly double the average dose typically found in similar substances. This continuing and troubling trend has federal health officials worried as one of the summer’s biggest drug-fueled parties approaches.
High-Potency MDMA Detected
The proliferation of high-potency MDMA tablets was only recently publicly acknowledged by police after the detection of these pills at the Lost Paradise music festival on the Central Coast. The NSW government’s drug checking service is already working proactively to identify these dangerous substances before they’ve caused any harm. Field Day will be offering onsite pill-testing at this year’s event. This initiative is one small piece of a larger effort, and the day-of event is projected to draw tens of thousands of participants.
Their 12-month drug checking trial will help more festival-goers stay safe, and in the know. By the end of February of next year, at least 12 music festivals will have taken part in this vital program. The initiative is just the latest example of a growing realization that harm reduction strategies belong at any large, public gathering.
Diverse and Deceptive Pill Designs
The new high-dose MDMA tablets are no joke. Beyond being just photogenic, they are photogenic in a taboo way with their interesting shapes and colors which distract from their potential dangers. Other pills feature pop culture icons in colorful designs, even employing designs based off of cartoon characters such as Hello Kitty and Rick and Morty. Others adopt a more whimsical form, mimicking love hearts. These designs can be especially appealing to younger and more impressionable audiences, thereby increasing the chances for unintentional consumption.
Health officials are desperate to drive home the message that, yes, these colorful pills do not guarantee any sort of safety. In fact, their high potency can have dire health consequences. Yet the NSW Health department is still posting warnings about the dangers of taking these substances as people head to New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Enhancing Safety Through Testing
The introduction of onsite pill-testing at Field Day was an Australian first, and a huge step towards making sure that music festival attendees are safe. This popular initiative gives individuals the opportunity to test their pills before they consume them. It provides them life-saving intelligence about the drugs’ potency and chemical makeup.
The NSW state government is about to run its own pill-testing trial. This initiative is a key piece of a larger effort focused on addressing the state’s drug related health crises. As festivals start to attract millions of attendees, the need for measures like these becomes more vital.
