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Drug testing service finds 'potentially dangerous' MDMA levels in pills at New Zealand festivals

March 12, 2019
File image of pills.

A drug related harm reduction service has a warning for Kiwis after it found "potentially dangerous high doses of MDMA during the 2018/2019 festival season".

KnowYourStuffNZ provides free pill testing at festivals and events around New Zealand so those planning on taking them can make more informed choices.

In a statement today, the service warned that a number of pills tested were found to contain up to four times the normal dose of MDMA than is commonly found in one pill.

"Users are advised that the only way to guarantee safety is to not take them.

"For those who do choose to take them, our recommendation is to only take a third of a pill at most and wait at least an hour before considering taking any more.

"A common dose of MDMA is around 80-120 milligrams, depending upon a user’s body weight.

"Some of the pills that KnowYourStuffNZ have tested this summer contained up to four doses in one pill," part of the statement reads.

The agency also released photos and descriptions of some of their findings as below:

Purple Defqon pill.

Purple Defqon

Purple/pink, round, logo of Defqon festival one side only

Weight: 320mg

Estimated to contain 150-200mg MDMA

Pink Porsche

Bright pink, shield shape, Porsche logo one side

Weight: 350mg

Estimated to contain 200-250mg MDMA

Pink Maple Leaf

Pink, Canadian maple leaf shape, ‘D2’ on one side, ‘ICON’ on the other

Weight: 330mg

Estimated to contain 200-300mg MDMA

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