Sunday Herald, The: This may look like a harmless powder but it s a new form of ecstasy

APOWERFUL new form of ecstasy is being discovered by police in Scotland in increasing quantities, triggering warnings that clubbers are putting themselves at risk if they take it.

Senior drug squad officers say they have identified a new trend in which dealers are offering ecstasy, or MDMA, in ultra-pure powder and crystal form at more than three times the strength of a typical tablet.

Concern about the quantities of MDMA seized over the past three months will lead to the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency issuing a warning this week to health professionals and drug agencies about its increasing presence.

The number of music festivals due to take place over the summer, each attracting tens of thousands of revellers, has also prompted police to take the unusual step of speaking out about the dangers of taking the drug, which is being sold on the streets for around [pounds]50 a gram.

Despite the high price, police fear that the increased spending power of young clubbers and the promise of a more intense "hit" will lead to an upsurge in the number of people willing to try it. An ecstasy tablet, the more usual form of the drug, can be bought for around [pounds]3.

Kenny Simpson, a detective sergeant with Strathclyde Police's drug squad, said: "The concern is that, with this MDMA powder and crystal about, because it doesn't look much, people will underestimate its properties.

"It might not necessarily lead to death, but if you're the one person who's going to have a reaction you are more susceptible to that with the significantly higher dose.

"We're not scaremongering.

We are saying that this is a developing drug trend in Scotland that's been ticking away in England and Wales for the last couple of years. We want people to be aware that the MDMA, and particularly the MDMA crystals, are invariably of higher purity than you might anticipate."

The warning from police in Scotland follows the death of teenager Sian Sadler last month, who died after taking ecstasy on a night out at a club in Manchester. The 18-yearold went out with friends to the Sankeys Soap nightspot and collapsed at a friend's house later that night. An inquest is being held into her death.

Ecstasy first came to prominence as part of the 1980s "rave" scene, where revellers would take the stimulant to induce feelings of euphoria.

Levels of usage have increased over the years, and more than half a million people are now thought to be taking the drug every weekend.

Strathclyde Police said the new form of the drug was almost unheard of in the region until recently, but that they were now finding it "every other week".

They believe that criminals are manufacturing the drug domestically instead of relying on ecstasy tablets trafficked into the country from abroad.

Recent recoveries have included gram and half-gram paper wraps of crystal MDMA - selling for around [pounds]50 or [pounds]25 - and [pounds]5 red and white capsules containing high-purity 100mg measures of MDMA powder.

The new upsurge in MDMA's availability in powder and crystal form has also prompted the drug squad to alter its practice of recording ecstasy seizures. Instead of just marking them "MDMA", the force now plans to gauge the scale of the problem by recording whether the drug is recovered in tablet, powder or crystal form.

Simpson said: "It's a trend that's starting to develop because people and dealers are getting to know about it and there's money to be made from it.

"We have information that people are bringing some of it up from England and selling it for a profit. We've also had recoveries in rural areas of Strathclyde, where its production may be more localised.

"With one capsule you're taking the equivalent of two or three ecstasy tablets in one go.

The crystals are of very high purity, so my concern is that people take far too much MDMA and there will be serious long or short-term effects from this.

"The high cost of the gram deals we're seeing would indicate that the drugs are not being adulterated heavily.

"The sad thing with ecstasy deaths is that it's just normal people who are going out for a night out and who choose to play Russian roulette with themselves.

"They are not stereotypical drug users, they are your sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

These are young people from 17 to 30, who have money coming in.

"With major music events coming up right across Scotland where ecstasy is being used, we are asking people to be careful because this is a stronger ecstasy.

"We feel strongly that there is no point in waiting until people start becoming seriously unwell or have a fatal reaction.

That's why we are getting this information out now."

Anyone with information on who is dealing in or manufacturing the drug is urged to contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Drug agencies last night warned clubbers to "be aware".

John Arthur, manager of drugs information project Crew 2000, advised clubbers who were using ecstasy to replace fluids by drinking water slowly and to avoid sugary drinks.