Pubdate: 9 Aug, 1999
Source: Examiner, The (Ireland)
Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999
Contact:  http://www.examiner.ie/
Author: Fionnan Sheahan

DEALERS TO TARGET MARKET WITH ECLIPSE E TABS

DRUG dealers are believed to be importing specially designed ecstasy
tablets for Wednesday’s solar eclipse. The E tabs stamped with a sun and
moon logo are known as “Clipse Trips”.

Produced in Holland, Belgium and Germany, they were developed to target
people heading to the many music festivals taking place in south west
England and across the continent.

The gimmick factor has seen the tablets reportedly spread across the UK and
as a result into Ireland. Gardai are anticipating their appearance on the
drugs scene.

“In terms of supply, we could be a couple of weeks behind them here. If its
in the UK we would expect to see it here,” a member of the Garda Drugs
Squad said.

Drug manufacturers regularly tailor their product according to changing
fashions and events. Every type of ecstasy has a stamp on it and 350
different logos are known to Gardai. These include Fred Flintstone, Batman,
Smily faces, the letters OD and the Rolex Crown. Most common at present is
the Mitsubishi three diamonds mark.

Gardai have been seizing ‘Millennium’ ecstasy tablets for the past year.
“At the moment the ‘Millennium’ tabs have MDMA (ecstasy) in them. In the
middle of last year it was amphetamine,” a member of the Garda Forensic
Science Unit said. A tablet with the ‘MM’ logo is expected to be available
soon.

Ecstasy tablets cost pounds 10 on the street and the novelty of getting
something new would be attractive to buyers. The drug does produce a
hallucinatory effect on the eyes which may cause the person to do dangerous
things which they would not normally consider. Quite why anybody feels they
need to appreciate something as spectacular as an eclipse with artificial
drugs is baffling.

According to pharmacologist, Dr Des Corrigan the logos are merely marketing
effects and the makers would not be able to modify the drugs to increase
the user’s eclipse experience. “They wouldn't have the kind of subtle
variations. People might claim it will enhance your ability to enjoy the
eclipse, but it wouldn't be true.”

The bottom line is the drug is not safe no matter what logo is on it. “The
belief that ecstasy is a safe substance is a very dangerous concept. After
several exposures, aspects of the immune system become permanently
damaged,” warns ecstasy expert Professor Brian Leonard. 
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