A new study has highlighted the apparent effect of Brexit and the pandemic on the trade in the illegal party drug ecstasy (MDMA). They believe a combination of Brexit and COVID-19 lockdowns may have contributed to a sharp rise in “copycat” ecstasy last summer – and warn of the unknown health risks to drug-users ahead of this year’s festival season. They found the presence of MDMA in samples sold as MDMA fell from 93% in 2019 to 55% in 2021. In the UK, cathinones such as mephedrone (MCAT) were once sold as “legal highs”. “This isn’t the first time we have seen cathinones being sold as ecstasy at UK events.

Source: The Guardian June 08, 2022 05:00 UTC