Two die after taking ecstasy 6 times stronger than normal

Lee Dunnachie, 22, and Steven Kelly, who was 19, died hours apart at separate locations in Ayrshire.

Detectives investigating the deaths of the two men said the victims were not connected to each other, but said that the drugs they had appeared to have taken were six times more potent than normal.

Social workers and addiction teams have been put on alert amid fears other drug users could take the pills in question.

Strathclyde Police, which issued a public warning about the drugs, are still awaiting the results of the post-mortems for Mr Dunnachie and Mr Kelly, but believe their deaths are linked to the tablets.

Detective Inspector Craig McArthur, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our inquiries have revealed that prior to the boys' deaths, they both had taken ecstasy tablets. Our inquiries have since revealed that tablets are extra-strong.

"If that is the case then somebody could be popping a tablet and it could have the effect of taking six tablets. So, in effect, it is a lot, lot, stronger."

He added: "My advice is that firstly they are an illegal substance, and it's against the law; and, secondly, if you are insistent on taking this particular drug then it is extra-strong and dangerous and I would warn against doing so if you do value your life. It's the case with any illegal substance that it is a lottery."

No direct connection has been established between the two dead men and police are looking into how widely the tablets have been distributed.

The deaths are believed to have occurred several miles apart in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, and in the village of Patna, East Ayrshire. Tributes were left on the social networking website Facebook after Mr Dunnachie's death. Relative Kayleigh Dunnachie wrote on her Facebook wall: "RIP cuz… Just another angel up there… Keep the gates open for me and leave the stairway clear… Sleep tight xxxxx ur in my heart forever an always xxxxxx."

Another cousin, Ashleigh Cope, posted: "RIP Lee. You'll be up there laughing at us all crying and you'll be up there still partying. Love you loads big cuz.Never forget you!"

Siobhan Sutherland wrote: "Am in shock was a brill pal he just phoned me the otha day :-( xxx."

Strathclyde Police said they would be speaking to partner agencies, including health workers, social work and alcohol and drug action teams, to alert "drug mis-users".

The investigation into the deaths is ongoing, and it is expected that results from the post-mortems will be made available to police today.

Ecstasy, or MDMA, often varies widely in strength, with some tablets found to contain other drugs, such as speed or benzylpiperazine, another stimulant.

Designed as a mood elevator it releases serotonin in the brain, producing a euphoric state, which typically lasts for between three and six hours.

According to the most recent statistics from the General Register Office for Scotland, covering the year 2009, there were just two ecstasy related deaths among Scots. However, the figure was far higher in previous years, with the death toll reaching a peak of 20 throughout 2001 and 2002.

The recent deaths in Ayrshire are not the first time that the region has been at a centre of an ecstasy tragedy. Three young clubbers died in 1994 after taking the drug at the Hangar 13 venue in Ayr.

The revellers - Andrew Dick, 19, from Glasgow, John Nisbet, 18, from New Cumnock, and Andrew Stoddart, 20, from Rigside, Lanarkshire - all suffered from overdoses. The venue was closed the following year.

Several other young Scots have also died after taking ecstasy.

In 1997, the drug claimed the life of Andrew Woodlock, a 13-year-old from New Stevenston, Lanarkshire, while Julia Dawes, 18, died after taking ecstasy in a Perth nightclub the following year. Her parents found her in a coma and she died in hospital.