Five youths were rushed to hospital yesterday after taking ecstasy at a north-east house party.
Four ambulances and a special operations response team were called to the property in Westhill, after the five boys became “unwell” in the early hours.
They were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where they are understood to be in a stable condition.
Neighbours yesterday spoke of their shock at the drama, which unfolded in the affluent Westhill Crescent at about 3.45am.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said its large response was due to the fact they had received reports of “multiple casualties”.
A spokesman said: “We received an emergency call at 3.45am this morning to the address. We got reports of multiple patients who had taken unwell at that locus.
“We sent four ambulances and a special operations response team. They attend when there is multiple casualties.
“Five male casualties were all transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in a stable condition.”
He added the youths were taken in three ambulances to the hospital.
A police spokesman said: “We responded to a call from ambulance to concerns at about 3.30am in the Westhill Crescent area of Westhill.
“As a result five youths were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”
He added nobody had been charged and that no further inquiries are being carried out into the incident.
Yesterday, neighbours on the quiet street – which is near Crombie Primary School and Westhill Academy – admitted they were surprised to hear of youngsters taking the Class A drug in the town.
But one man said it was “not the end of the world”, and added: “Maybe most people would say it is something that might happen in town, but get your head out of the sand – this sort of thing happens all around you.
“It is just one of these things that happens. I am surprised, but there is a very diverse culture here.”
Another local resident added: “I didn’t hear anything. It is quiet here, it is a very quiet area but in this day and age… It is the festive season parties happen. It is how we all learn, by making mistakes.”
Local councillor Ron McKail said he was sure people would be “surprised and shocked” when they heard about the incident.
He said: “It is not the sort of thing you would expect to happen in Westhill.
“I am shocked and very surprised that this sort of thing is happening, that people are being taken to hospital in ambulance. Hopefully they are OK.”
Mr McKail, who is also part of the Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership, urged people to consider the risks of taking drugs.
“It strikes me people take pills without knowing what the contents are,” he said. “I just often feel people need to be aware that pills, if you don’t know what the content is, it is not worth the risk of taking them.
“I only wish them to make a full recovery and hope they learn from this.”