Festival goers may have taken tablets made from industrial paint, belieiving they were ecstasy, at both Manchester Pride and Creamfields, it has been revealed.
Organisers have released urgent warnings after the rare substance, never before found in the UK, was detected by a drug testing laboratory after drugs were taken from amnesty bins and tested.
Scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University and GMP partnership MANDRAKE (The Manchester Drug Analysis & Knowledge Exchange) made the discovery.
The official Twitter feed for Manchester’s four-day LGBT celebration posted a warning.
The ‘UPS’ pills were made from MMMP but revellers believed they were buying ecstasy at both Manchester Pride and Creamfields in Cheshire
It stated: ‘WARNING! Harmful MMMP (Caccure 907) sold as crystal MDMA. MMMP is a potentially toxic substance. TAKE CARE! If unwell see medics.’
MMMP, a chemical known as a photoinitiator is normally used in the production of inks and in coloured coatings.
MMMP has never been discovered in drugs in this country before and its not classified as a psychoactive substance by the European Commission.
Very little is known about its effect on humans, however it is for example considered toxic to fish and aquatic life in water, and therefore dangerous to the environment.
Thousands of people dressed in every colour of the rainbow line the streets of Manchester for the annual Manchester Pride parade
The fact it is visually very similar to the crystal form of MDMA, or Ecstasy has prompted fears people may unwittingly take it thinking it is the popular party drug, hence the warnings.
Dr Oliver Sutcliffe, who works on the MANDRAKE team, said ‘numerous bags’ of the harmful substance being sold as MDMA had been found over the weekend.
This included at Creamfields in Daresbury, Cheshire. Organisers from the festival also tweeted saying: ‘MMMP has been identified by our on-site Lab.
‘There is no safe way to visually tell its strength and contents.
‘If you have a substance of concern please drop into Welfare & use the amnesty bins provided. If you or a friend feel unwell seek help @ChillWelfare in the Campsite village.’
Charity The Loop, who carry out voluntary drug testing for festival goers where permitted, said on their Twitter feed: ‘MMMP (aka MTMP) is an industrial dye hardening agent which the Loop identified thru front of house testing in 2016 & 17 being sold (very rarely) as MDMA – now detected @ManchesterPride & @Creamfields 2018.
The pills and powders contain a long lasting powerful stimulant called alpha-PVP. Festival organisers told people to seek help if they had taken it and were feeling unwell
‘There is limited documentation about effects & risks.’ Drug safety has been high on the agenda at Pride in recent years. Two people were taken ill after taking super-strength Green Rolex Ecstasy pills in 2016.
As well as MMMP, Creamfields also issued a warning about yellow coloured ‘UPS’ pills said to be in circulation at the festival.
Rather than MDMA they contain a long lasting powerful stimulant alpha-PVP.
The festival tweeted: ‘Yellow UPS sold as MDMA have been tested by onsite lab and identified as a long lasting powerful stimulant alpha-PVP which can cause extreme anxiety, paranoia & unpleasant hallucinations.
‘Dosage is much lower than MDMA so it’s easy to take too much, seek help if you feel unwell.’