Seventeen-year-old boy dies in hospital after taking ‘ecstasy’ tablets
Police warn about dangers of drug following teenager's death
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A teenager has died after taking tablets believed to be ecstasy, police said.
Officers said a 17-year-old boy from Knowsley, Merseyside, was taken to Whiston Hospital where he died on Friday morning.
Merseyside Police have released a warning about the dangers of drugs following the teenager’s death, which is being treated as unexplained.
However, the force said “early enquiries have led us to believe that he may have taken a quantity of ecstasy tablets”.
Detective Inspector Matt Smith said: “We want people to think twice before they take drugs. It is not only illegal to buy or sell drugs, but taking illegal substances can also be very dangerous and potentially fatal.
“People taking any form of illegal drugs don’t know what’s in them, where they’ve come from or what effects they may have on them.
“Although we do not know the full circumstances of what has happened in this tragic case and must keep an open mind, we are sufficiently concerned to feel the need to issue a warning to anyone out there thinking of taking drugs this weekend.”
PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.