Much has been made recently about the prevalence of 'legal highs' and the surge in the use of synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice, but the suspected ecstasy overdoses of three young people at a Glasgow concert are a timely reminder that MDMA is still the drug of choice for many.

When ecstasy, considered by some to be the original designer drug, first hit the dance scene back in 1980s, clubbers were paying up to £25 a pill - that's the equivalent of a hefty £50 in today's money. A sum out of the reach of most teenagers.

But now, widely dealt at between £3 and £10 a pill, the potentially deadly drug is available at pocket money prices, making it all the more attractive and accessible to young people looking to experiment.

A survey by the charity DrugWise in 2017 also found that drug is now being sold at unprecedented purity levels, increasing the likelihood of overdoses.

After swallowing, the drug takes between 20 and 60 minutes to kick in, depending on the quantity consumed.

The effects peak after around an hour and a half, often prompting users to take more to maintain the euphoric high - in turn greatly increasing the risk of harmful side effects.

Side effects that can range from everything from delayed orgasms to death - with seizures, panic attacks, unconsciousness, renal failure and hypothermia in between.

A day or so after the last dose, users can experience a considerable 'crash' as the last active remnants of the drug leaves their systems - a period sometimes referred to as 'suicide Tuesday' due to the drug most commonly being taken on weekends.