NEWS: Brisbane woman dies from ecstasy overdose

[Pie]

NEWS: Brisbane woman dies from ecstasy overdose, January 06, 2009

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24879654-421,00.html

THE death of a 28-year-old Brisbane woman on New Year's Day after she took two ecstasy pills has prompted a police warning about the dangers of drugs.

Police said the woman died after taking two ecstasy tablets bought at a Fortitude Valley nightclub on New Year's Eve.

She died at a Gordon Park home, in Brisbane's north.

Three people were also taken to a Sunshine Coast hospital after taking fantasy, also known as GHB, at the weekend.

The woman's death and three hospitalisations are under investigation.

Acting Superintendent Steve Holahan said the incidents prompted a warning to others.

He said people took drugs "blindfolded", with the buyer and often the seller, having no idea what was in the concoction.

"Often these drugs are mixed in someone's garage or backyard using hazardous or toxic material," Supt Holahan said.

"Buying illicit drugs is not like buying something off the shelf at a supermarket.

"There is no label with a list of ingredients, no return policy from the seller and certainly no quality assurance by those making the product."

He said the dangers of illicit drugs were compounded when mixed with prescription drugs and alcohol.

Apologies if this has already been posted.

 

[p i l l s]

Thats sad to hear, not the sort of new years news ur family wants to hear
Was mdma souly the cause? or a cocktail of chemicals and or other factors?

 

[WILDSTRAWBERRIES]

If they're so worried about what people are taking, legalize and control it

Being on prescription drugs and drinking is bad enough, let alone throwing MDMA in there. If it was MDMA...

 

[hoptis]

I'm happy for people like Tom (comment 11) and 'should be working' (comment 6) to keep pumping themselves full of ecstacy, speed, acid and the rest. Go for it boys. Knock yourselves out. Just don't ask for anyone elses help when you get arrested, need medical attention, die, become mentally ill or have disabled kids because of your decision to take drugs. Oh that's right...it won't happen to you will it??

Posted by: Jack Scagnetti of Brisbane 4:27pm today
Comment 22 of 35


let them take the drugs of their choice and when they die, that will one less idiot society has to worry about.

Posted by: lowood cynic of lowood 4:11pm today
Comment 18 of 35


People just don't learn. Using chemicals to get a buzz. Pathetic

Posted by: Joe Public of Brisbane 3:10pm today
Comment 5 of 35


A 28 year old should know better. What a stupid waste of a life.

Posted by: bel of brisbane 2:48pm today
Comment 1 of 35

Reader comments from the Courier Mail

Are you going to let them get away with comments like that?

 

[cudds]

is there any information around as to what was the actual cause of death. as we all know ecstasy is all to common a term that gets thrown around and isnt nessecarily associated with the actual drug mdma.
i wonder if it was pma. if my memory serves me correctly there was a seizure of pills on the gc that contained pma during schoolies(i think).

 

[the_ketaman]

There was recently PMA found up there and it seems quite a few people OD on pills up there, obviously not pure pills. Maybe she was allergic to MDMA? I dunno but I find it hard to believe someone OD'd from pure E. Even though its obviously dangerous if not used respornsibly ive only just recently realized how safe the pure stuff really is.

QLD has a rep for shitty pills. Poor girl anyway, I hope she didnt die in pain.

 

[Mr Blonde]

^ I also wonder about the content of the pills... even with high content MDMA pills, two to cause death seems very extreme and I also wonder if there is something in there that is quite dangerous (e.g. PMA) or if this woman had some predisposition that led to this tragic incident.

 

[Nonstop]

With all the crap floating around Brissy/GC, I highly doubt the pills were MDxx

 

[phase_dancer]

Predisposition is a real possibility. We all have the impression MDMA is a safe drug, and while in normal circumstances - good health, pure product, low-med dosage, recovery plan...etc - it probably is relatively safe, there's always those who may be adversely affected by MDMA through some underlying condition.

I have a few examples where I've seen people have serious reactions to MDMA and I know of one guy who died after MDMA. I believe I've mentioned the most serious of these in older posts.

Perhaps most noted is the reaction one lady had to a tiny piece of a pill placed under her tongue. She had a nasty form of arthritis (first diagnosed at age 29) and was prescribed several drugs including methotrexate. Her reaction was intense and indicated the importance of the allergy test method for anyone who has not previously taken the drug and may be susceptible.

The death involved a guy I knew who was in his late fifties. He had used MDMA on occasions in the past, but otherwise was a very health conscious person who worked in the vitamin/supplements industry. The reason he died was due to elevated blood pressure/ heart rate etc, caused by MDMA and the effect that had on an underlying heart condition. MDMA was determined to be what triggered the massive heart attack. Sure, he might have had one anyway, but could that have been less severe without MDMA? We shall never know.

Somewhat related; an old friend of mine passed away xmas day following a massive stroke he suffered some days before. He apparently wanted to get some coke for xmas, and when he couldn't, settled for meth instead. While an underlying condition meant a stroke was likely at some stage for this 51 year old, toxicologists concluded the meth was likely a contributing factor in his death.

FWIW, I've also known other E/meth users who have had strokes, one only 35yo.

What this should drive home is that there are dangers associated with MDMA, and while age is certainly a factor affecting risk, so is general health and individual response.

 

[tadfish]

I wonder if we will see what was in the pill. Who decides does that family? who has the right? Also to what wrong use will the law be used to investigate.
Let the public know what we are eating!
Here is an idea maybe if they didn't bust so many good quality drugs there wouldn't be so many shit cheap street pills made up of left over chemicals.
I would hate to be a young drug user starting to get into "ecstasy" fuck might have had 20 different pills not even trying anything MD yet. for shame a ruin generation how will they turn out. where the love, raves and closeness? gone thanks johny law this death is on you as are most drug related death due to street drug ingestion

 

[hoptis]

Parents of ecstasy death woman Rosanne Bebendorf speak out
By Robyn Ironside
The Courier-Mail
January 08, 2009 08:06am

A GRIEVING Queensland couple has questioned how drugs can continue to be sold in clubs after losing their daughter to ecstasy on New Year's Day.

Rosanne Bebendorf died after taking two tablets allegedly bought at a Fortitude Valley nightclub on New Year's Eve - a day after her 28th birthday.

Police believe the pills that apparently killed Ms Bebendorf were among a bad batch of drugs circulating in southeast Queensland that left three others in hospital.

Neville and Gerry Bebendorf, both high school teachers, are left to mourn their eldest daughter, whom Mrs Bebendorf described as "a beautiful, fragile person who touched many hearts".

"Rosie was cruelly treated by unscrupulous people who took advantage of her vulnerability and generosity," she said.

"If any good is to come of this, it may serve as a warning to young people never to start taking drugs."

Mrs Bebendorf said she was concerned about how drugs could be sold in nightclubs.

"Why aren't there sniffer dogs? How can these people (dealers) get away with this?" she said.

Australian Hotels Association state boss Justin O'Connor said licensed venues did not have a legal obligation to search people for drugs. "That's a police function," Mr O'Connor said.

He said most licensees were "extremely serious" about giving patrons a safe environment.

"The vast majority take that duty very seriously and are vigilant for signs of anti-social activity, including the use of illegal drugs," he said.

Sarosh Mehta of Cabarets Queensland said police were "constantly visiting clubs".

"We are hyper-vigilant. It's extremely disappointing that there's just a small group of young people who are playing russian roulette with the licensees and the law," Mr Mehta said.

Police said no drug detection dogs were used in Brisbane clubs on New Year's Eve, but they were "just one of a number of strategies in the fight against the unlawful possession of drugs".

Australian Medical Association spokeswoman Alex Markwell said there was no such thing as a safe recreational drug. "As much as people would like to think there is, there isn't."

News.com.au

 

[expothead]

"Rosie was cruelly treated by unscrupulous people who took advantage of her vulnerability and generosity," she said.

Is she talking about the government here?

Mrs Bebendorf said she was concerned about how drugs could be sold in nightclubs.

"Why aren't there sniffer dogs? How can these people (dealers) get away with this?" she said.

And she's a school teacher??

 

[belarki]

And she's a school teacher??

Hey Queensland ranks lower in school results than most of the rest of the western world... and Kazakstan too! Don't be suprised by blatant ignorance on the part of teachers.

Back on topic, truly tragic to hear about the girl's death. I would be interested to know whether it was an adverse reaction to a (let's face it) trivial amount of MDMA, or whether there were other factors/health conditions/drugs involved?

 

[Mr Blonde]

Australian Medical Association spokeswoman Alex Markwell said there was no such thing as a safe recreational drug. "As much as people would like to think there is, there isn't."

Hence the need for harm reduction to be taken up as a major drug policy, and not just for illegal substances either.

 

[yellowfrog]

Does anyone know what these pills look like? Is there any info on pill reports? This information could really protect people.

 

[famsman]

there's so much crap going around here in brizzy the last few months... i haven't had a decent one in ages.
i have heard about pma being around lately - maybe that was it...

i have just ordered a test kit for the first time... don't trust anyone else with your own LIFE...

 

[kingpin007]

I believe once you make it to your mid 30's ... say between 30-35 you MUST stop taking drugs except for pot ..

I just turned 33 and I'm over pills now ... yeah it's great to be munted...

If your young then you heal quicker and you can handle more than someone in their 30's.

this women was 28 ... and rarely took pills .... I have consumed I would say around 3000 pills in my 10 years of popping & I have never been really sick ... I been VERY lucky.

Im having a break at the moment as last time I took pills was on new years & to be honest I am over taking pills every weekend & really pills are no way as strong as they used to be and I dont get the love from it anymore ... the partys over for me ...

I was gonna take a 4 month break but Im honestly thinking of quitting for good.

 

[baysieguy1]

I believe once you make it to your mid 30's ... say between 30-35 you MUST stop taking drugs except for pot ..

I just turned 33 and I'm over pills now ... yeah it's great to be munted...

If your young then you heal quicker and you can handle more than someone in their 30's.

\

Oh rubbish! I am in my forties and I only started taking pills last year, it is about educating yourself, not your too old to take them!!!!

Great quote from a great writer, " Youth is wasted on the young"

 

[belarki]

Oh rubbish! I am in my forties and I only started taking pills last year, it is about educating yourself, not your too old to take them!!!!

Great quote from a great writer, " Youth is wasted on the young"

Exactly, hallucinogens especially are better appreciated as you mature! (I'd give iboga a miss though, personally I'm still youngish but doubt my system could handle it). What's important is being precautious.

Was that quote from Oscar Wilde or Bernard Shaw?

 

[Mr Blonde]

^ Shaw.

Regarding iboga... are you worried about pre-existing medical conditions putting you at risk when taking the substance?