After 20-year-old Jordy Hurdes took a bad ecstasy pill in early November 2015, he ended up in the hospital with uncontrollable shaking, muscle spasms, and a stutter. In order to raise awareness for the dangers of drugs, Hurdes, an Australian native, took to Facebook to tell his story through posts and video footage of his condition, which may be difficult for some to watch.

“Doctors can’t believe I’m still alive, so I’m grateful I’m still here,” Hurdes said in the video, which has accumulated nearly four million views. “It’s a waiting game at the moment to see whether I’ll have permanent jerking like I do now, and with my stutter I’m not sure it will get better anytime soon. But just, please guys, don’t get sucked in. It all seems like fun and games and a cheap $25 pill — but it’s not worth it.”

Bad Ecstasy Reaction
A bad ecstasy pill led 20-year-old Jordy Hayes to develop abnormal and possibly permanent damage. Photo courtesy of Facebook, Jordy Hurdes

Roughly a year ago, Hurdes began taking ecstasy because he said it was cheaper than alcohol and believed it was a safe alternative party drug. But after the possible permanent damage he’s suffering, his goal has become to spread awareness. More than 11 million people 12 years of age and older reported using the synthetic psychoactive drug ecstasy at least once, according to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in America. Hurdes plans to be admitted into a rehab facility by Christmas with hopes of reversing the damage.

“I myself am lucky to be alive now,” Hurdes wrote. “I now have the possibility of a permanent stutter and twitch due to nerve or brain damage. Please, please, please don’t take the ‘cheaper fun’ option, because you never know if it could happen to you. If I can get this into at least a couple of people’s heads, then I could have saved someone’s life.”