“Super-strength” MDMA sees festivalgoers taken to A&E

Monday 02 September 2019

Several festivalgoers fell ill and some had to be taken to hospital after taking “super-strength” MDMA pills at the Weekender festival.

According to a Home Affairs spokesperson, the music event attendees had taken ‘Skype’ tablets, which had been the subject of previous warnings.

On Saturday, a number of people required treatment onsite by paramedics and St. John Ambulance after taking Skype, while a further two people were forced to go to hospital.

They have since been discharged.

Pictured: Ashleigh Thomas Green, whose death last month was linked to MDMA.

The news comes despite an alert issued in advance of the festival following the death of 29-year-old Ashleigh Thomas Green.

In it, the Drugs and Alcohol Service warned that batches of high-strength versions of MDMA – also known as ecstasy – had been circulating in the island under the names Skype, Donkey Kong and Ninja Turtles.

Medical Officer for Health Dr Susan Turnbull likened taking the Class A pill to playing “Russian roulette with your life.”