What are Tesla Pills?
Tesla pill is a type of ecstasy containing MDMA (3, 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a synthetic psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Tesla pills are shaped with the Logo of Tesla Inc., an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California.
This illegal drug acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. Its primary effects are in the brain on neurons that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. The serotonin system plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain.
Why is Tesla’s Logo on an illegal Drug?
Tesla logo is also meant to look luxurious and powerful something that its design and color scheme helps with. The makers of this illegal drug mimic this allure to drag users to this product. According to Forbes, early this summer, 20-year-old Jenny, a Los Angeles-based student was getting ready for Coachella. She had the requisite cute hat, tasseled flip flops and of course, two Orange Tesla ecstasy pills secreted away in a hidden pocket. She went for Tesla because she’d heard that they’re potent and make people feel good; plus she’d love to own a Tesla one day.
Types of Tesla Pills In Circulation
There are several types of Tesla branded ecstasy pills in circulation, they include;
The Orange Tesla Pills: Orange Tesla is an orange Ecstasy pill with a stamped image of the Tesla company logo on it. One of its trademark identifiers is that it glows in the dark. Some of the most potent versions of Orange Tesla contain at least 240 milligrams of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The street price for orange Tesla pills ranges from $10 – $20. Sometimes, drug dealers who are trying to increase their profits from the drug may mix in other ingredients when they make it. These include ephedrine from diet pills, heroin, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP).
The Blue Tesla Pills: Blue Tesla pill is a blue Ecstasy pill with a stamped image of the Tesla company logo on it. According to reports, the average dose of MDMA in blue triangular “TESLA” tablets that were seized and analyzed was approximately 130mg, which amounts to more than double the dose commonly found.
The Pink/Red Tesla Pills: This Tesla pill can be pinkish or reddish in color with a stamped image of the Tesla company logo on it. According to revelations following the seizure of 4 parcels which arrived from Germany and the Netherlands by Chennai Air Customs, these red looking pills embossed with the logo of Tesla Company contain 224 mg of MDMA.
The Green Tesla Pills: Green Tesla is a greenish looking Ecstasy pill with a stamped image of the Tesla company logo on it. Recently, following the arrest of a suspected drug dealer, officers took 10 small green pills into evidence that bear the Tesla logo. The pills and other unknown materials were sent to the coroner’s office to be tested. According to police sources, these super-strength pills, emblazoned with the name of the American car firm, contain up to 300mg of MDMA.
Health Hazards of Tesla Pills Use
For some people, this illicit drug can be addictive. A survey of young adult and adolescent users found that 43% met the accepted diagnostic criteria for dependence, as evidenced by continued use despite knowledge of physical or psychological harm, withdrawal effects, and tolerance (or diminished response), and 34% met the criteria for drug abuse.
Almost 60% of people who use ecstasy report withdrawal symptoms, including:
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- depressed feelings
- trouble concentrating.
Research in animals indicates that this drug, also referred to as MDMA or Molly, is neurotoxic; whether or not this is also true in humans is under investigation. Its effect on cognition and memory is a concern. The drug can also be lethal on rare occasions.
Effects of Using Tesla Pills
Chronic users of ecstasy perform more poorly than nonusers on certain types of cognitive or memory tasks. Some of these effects may be due to the use of other drugs in combination with Tesla Pills, among other factors. Research indicates heavy Tesla Pills use may cause persistent memory problems in humans, although studies are conflicting.
Physical Effects:
- In high doses, Tesla Pills can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. On rare but unpredictable occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in the liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death.
- Because it can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated drug use within short intervals.
- Users face many of the same risks as users of other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory problems or heart disease, and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating.
Psychological Effects:
- Psychological effects can include confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur during and for days or weeks after taking Tesla Pills.
Neurotoxicity:
- Research in animals links Tesla Pills’ exposure to long-term damage in neurons that are involved in mood, thinking, and judgment. A study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to the compound for only 4 days caused damage to serotonin nerve terminals that was evident 6 to 7 years later.
- While similar neurotoxicity has not been definitively shown in humans, the wealth of animal research on damaging properties suggests that the chemical is not a safe drug for human consumption.
Hidden Risks, Contaminants, and Fakes
- Other drugs chemically similar to Tesla pills, such as MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine, the parent drug of ecstasy) and PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine, associated with fatalities in the U.S. and Australia) are sometimes sold as ecstasy. These drugs can be neurotoxic or create additional health risks to the user.
- Tesla tablets may be further contaminated with other substances in addition to MDMA, such as ephedrine (a stimulant); dextromethorphan (DXM, a cough suppressant that has PCP-like effects at high doses); ketamine (an anesthetic used mostly by veterinarians that also has PCP-like effects); caffeine; cocaine; and methamphetamine.
- While the use of this agent by itself or with one or more of these drugs may be inherently dangerous, users might also unknowingly combine them with substances such as marijuana and alcohol, putting themselves at further physical risk. READ: How Long Does Ecstasy Stay In Your System
Are There Any Medical Uses for Tesla Pills?
A small study published in The Lancet Psychiatry looked at the use of MDMA in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers gave three different doses of MDMA to 22 veterans, three firefighters, and one police officer with PTSD. Among the participants, 23% had used ecstasy before. MDMA use was also combined with psychotherapy sessions. A month after the second session, a greater percentage in the high-dose groups no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared with the low-dose group.
After one year, 16 of the 26 participants (62%) no longer suffered from PTSD, but two had received a new diagnosis of PTSD. In addition, 12 patients were also taking additional psychiatric medications.
Side effects occurred with all doses, and included: anxiety, headache, fatigue, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), and suicidal thoughts.
However, not all experts were convinced. Long-term safety could not be guaranteed with this small group, and there is a risk of addiction and suicide in a population already at risk for these serious outcomes. Researchers note larger phase 3 studies should be completed, but those with PSTD should NOT use MDMA on their own to try to replicate these results.
For more information, please visit The National Institute on Drug Abuse ALSO SEE:X Pill: (MDMA): Effects, Hazards & Extent of Use, Addiction
