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Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2006
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http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/540/5860/2009/4/3/614286_377347288797Shockedmu.html
THE mother of a young man who died from a drugs overdose has called for a website that gives advice to ecstasy users to be shut down before more lives are lost.
Campaigner Sadie O’Reilly last night said she was shocked by the content of the online ‘guide’ for drug abuse.
The website is popular with users across the north, who post detailed reports on the quality of potentially deadly ecstasy tablets.
Some contributors even give a real-time running commentary as they experiment with taking pills.
According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, between 1997 and 2007 a total of 27 people died after taking lethal doses of ecstasy, which is a class A drug.
But despite the obvious health risks, large numbers of people continue to dice with death on a regular basis.
It is not clear where the website is based but it has more than 15,000 reports in an extensive database posted by people across the globe, with a dedicated section for Ireland and Britain.
While many contributors use testing kits to check the quality of ecstasy tablets before they take them, others prefer to play Russian Roulette with their lives.
On St Patrick’s Day one user in Derry posted a detailed account of taking ‘lightning bolt’ pills.
It has emerged that a quantity of high-strength ecstasy tablets is circulating in the north west.
Known as ‘iron crosses’, they are in hot demand on the drug scene across Ireland and Britain.
One poster, who describes himself as coming from Derry/Donegal, claimed the drugs were part of a £1.5 million haul smuggled into the area by dealers two years ago.
Another claimed a fresh batch of pills was imported from Rotterdam more recently.
Derry-based Ms O’Reilly, who works for anti-drug charity Hurt (Have Your Tomorrows), said she was stunned by the content of the website, which The Irish News has decided not to name.
“I was shocked and I have seen a lot of things. My God, I just don’t know where this is going to end,’’ she said.
“As I read one report I had to won-der if this person is going to be alive the next day.
“I want to make it clear every drug is unsafe. I am calling for this website to be closed down straight away but I am concerned there may be others just like it.”
Ms O’Reilly’s 22-year-old son Tony died after taking a heroin overdose 10 years ago.
She warned that ecstasy and other substances can be a passport into a life hard drug abuse.
“People coming into us tell us [ecstasy tablets] are available for 50p. In fact they are so worthless they often give them away at parties. All drugs are dangerous and people should avoid them.”
Hurt can be contacted at 028 7136 9696 or www.hurt.org.uk
THE mother of a young man who died from a drugs overdose has called for a website that gives advice to ecstasy users to be shut down before more lives are lost.
Campaigner Sadie O’Reilly last night said she was shocked by the content of the online ‘guide’ for drug abuse.
The website is popular with users across the north, who post detailed reports on the quality of potentially deadly ecstasy tablets.
Some contributors even give a real-time running commentary as they experiment with taking pills.
According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, between 1997 and 2007 a total of 27 people died after taking lethal doses of ecstasy, which is a class A drug.
But despite the obvious health risks, large numbers of people continue to dice with death on a regular basis.
It is not clear where the website is based but it has more than 15,000 reports in an extensive database posted by people across the globe, with a dedicated section for Ireland and Britain.
While many contributors use testing kits to check the quality of ecstasy tablets before they take them, others prefer to play Russian Roulette with their lives.
On St Patrick’s Day one user in Derry posted a detailed account of taking ‘lightning bolt’ pills.
It has emerged that a quantity of high-strength ecstasy tablets is circulating in the north west.
Known as ‘iron crosses’, they are in hot demand on the drug scene across Ireland and Britain.
One poster, who describes himself as coming from Derry/Donegal, claimed the drugs were part of a £1.5 million haul smuggled into the area by dealers two years ago.
Another claimed a fresh batch of pills was imported from Rotterdam more recently.
Derry-based Ms O’Reilly, who works for anti-drug charity Hurt (Have Your Tomorrows), said she was stunned by the content of the website, which The Irish News has decided not to name.
“I was shocked and I have seen a lot of things. My God, I just don’t know where this is going to end,’’ she said.
“As I read one report I had to won-der if this person is going to be alive the next day.
“I want to make it clear every drug is unsafe. I am calling for this website to be closed down straight away but I am concerned there may be others just like it.”
Ms O’Reilly’s 22-year-old son Tony died after taking a heroin overdose 10 years ago.
She warned that ecstasy and other substances can be a passport into a life hard drug abuse.
“People coming into us tell us [ecstasy tablets] are available for 50p. In fact they are so worthless they often give them away at parties. All drugs are dangerous and people should avoid them.”
Hurt can be contacted at 028 7136 9696 or www.hurt.org.uk
