NEWS: Herald Sun - 21/12/08 'Rave partygoers in drug overdose shock in Melbourne'

[hoptis]

Overdoses a warning
Editorial
December 22, 2008 12:00am

THAT the State Government has promised to get tough on rave-party organisers is welcome news after the GHB overdoses on Saturday night.

St John Ambulance treated more than 30 of about 2000 revellers at the X-Qlusive party at Festival Hall.

Twelve were taken to hospitals, and 13 made their own ways to emergency departments.

Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman said it was only a matter of time before someone died of GHB.

The debacle suggested that an especially dangerous batch of the drug was on our streets.

Not for nothing, GHB is known colloquially as GBH - "grievous bodily harm" - because that is what it can cause.

The ruthless criminals who cook and peddle it think nothing of the harm it can do.

But we must.

According to Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson, more onerous conditions will be applied on rave-party permits.

Organisers of parties where events similar to Saturday's occur might be put out of business.

These are timely initiatives.

The head of the police anti-booze taskforce, Inspector David Blencoe, also promised "proactive steps" before the Sensation dance party at Telstra Dome on New Year's Eve.

This, too, is a welcome move.

As the end-of-year party season accelerates, the weekend's overdoses should remind us all to be vigilant.

And those who take unprescribed substances should remember that most of their peers are smart enough not to.

Herald Sun

 

[phase_dancer]

Most people go a bit silly and push their limits once or twice, whether by accident or just to see how far you can go.
And thats with any drug, the most common one it happens with is alcohol.
Drug users tend to be a lot more sensible and controlled compared to drinkers.

The difference with G drugs compared to amphetamines or most other party drugs is G has a very sharp dose response. The dose window for newbees can be very narrow, meaning a little bit extra can be too much. RaveSafe used to get a significant number of G related interventions, but in the last few years there's been hardly any. I can only say, I hope we don't see a re-emergence of G popularity this summer.

I only just agree with you on the alcohol thingy. Looking at our outreach figures, alcohol is still the drug most associated with RS interventions, but a fair proportion also involve other drugs (poly drug use). In general I can't say drug users are more sensible - I wish I could. There's just so many who go on blind faith, who'll mix drugs without knowing anything about possible interactions, and who have the sole intention of getting off their face, and will do anything and everything to get there.

He said the drug was more likely to put people into a coma than other amphetamines.

WTF. Either he was quoted out of context or he's a very confused man. Structurally, and pharmacologically speaking, GHB, 1,4B and GBL are as far from amphetamine as you can get!

 

[ayjay]

WTF. Either he was quoted out of context or he's a very confused man. Structurally, and pharmacologically speaking, GHB, 1,4B and GBL are as far from amphetamine as you can get!

Hee hee - I got a larf from that one. The next sentence is a beauty too:

It could also cause patients to exhale vomit, causing serious pneumonia.

Don't talk to me about exhaling vomit - it brings back too many bad memories (but I never got pneumonia)!!!! I think the technical term is "parking a tiger". I am hoping that this is a typical case of bad journalism, rather than appalling incompetence of the ED AD.

It's worth putting all this hoo haa about GHB/GBL into context too: in metropolitan Melbourne, between Oct 07 and Sep 08, there were 5995 ambulance call-outs related to alcohol - far more than for every illicit drug combined (eg 1749 for heroin or likely heroin involvement, 423 for amphetamines in the same period). I'm sure a fair few of the G blow-outs that happened on the weekend were assisted by alcohol too....

 

[lil angel15]

Im rather curious about this:

I dont know much about GHB, it's never really stood out as interesting to me. But from my understanding it isn't adulterated (like ecstasy) for it to be deemed a 'bad batch'? (Can someone confirm this?)

I know the dosage between the high and the LD50 is rather small.. and this was my initial thinking when i first saw the article, that people had just taken too much. Am i right in thinking the media have no idea again? Or is it me this time?

Unless we saw an analysis done on the liquid in case then it wouldn't be prudent to dismiss that there could have been something wrong with the batch, however, I would strongly suggest that it was just a strong batch (read: not as diluted) or people not following the basic principles of 'safe' G use.

I wouldn't say the difference between a high dose and the LD50 of this drug was small per se; however, the difference between a high dose and a blow out is a flea’s dick. The problem with G is that there are usually too many variables to give definitive answers to the questions asked which often leads to heated discussion amongst individuals.

 

[malakaix]

^ Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up angel.

 

[js2k6]

it's got nothing to do with a "bad batch" of juice at all.

i personally don't touch the shit, but a few of my friends do, the fact is, (this comes from a very reliable source, that loves his G) but at the moment theres a lot of rather potent GBL doing the rounds in melboure, and that from all accounts is a lot less happy and euphoric, and is much more effective as a sedative than the usually somewhat watered down GHB.

this mate of mine was one of the ravers who managed to blow out at xqlusive, and thankfully he wasn't hospitalised.

but it fucking sucks that these phd kiddies are destroying our scene.
3 of my good friends, who don't use any sort of drugs. hardly even drink. all were completely sober had a great time there.

and now what. softcock politicians are going to make it almost impossible for events like q-dance to obtain the relevant permits to hold these events.
so because less than 20 people out of 2000. which is 1% of the crowd, cant handle their shit.
we're going to lose our entire scene.

q dance events were the only hope for all of us that are into hardstyle.

now with ultraworld and universe @ kryal gone...
pharmacy has one event left... (if they can even secure the permit)

xmas kandy has been cancelled (i may be wrong but from what i hear it's got something to do with the blowouts @ xqlusive)

it's not really hardstyle.. but earthcore's gone aswell.

the scene is being killed off. and it sucks
it's going to be forced underground. but yet. events like soundwave still get the all-clear. just because it's not a rave. take my word for it. there will be a lot of people using speed ice and pills there too.

it's been something like 4 years since anyone in melbourne died from GHB.

how about the government pulls their finger out of their fucking arse, and starts demonising GHB. they wont even have to over exaggerate the advertisements like they do with the Ice, Ecstasy and Alcohol ads they put on.
a video of a real blowout, being carted off to hospital should be adequate.

and then lets look at the other side. what preventative measures did the venue / event have to counter drug use.
a quick pat down on the door. and sent in on your merry way with a wallet full of party supplies. come on srsly?.

kryal castle had dogs and cops and everything.

so let's take the puritan approach and just kill off an entire genre of music because of a few blowouts. but not extend the bans to the other music genres.
i'd like to see how many people would have been hospitalised had it been a room with 2000 drunk people instead.

 

[Bent Mk2]

[EDIT: Let's leave that discussion to event threads or OzTrance hoptis]

 

[groova]

js2k6......maybe you should tell your friends to stop taking ghb at club/rave gigs for a start. This just puts another nail in the coffin of the melbourne EDM scene......and might I add this shit never happens at my beloved techno & prog parties.

 

[Technic]

and then lets look at the other side. what preventative measures did the venue / event have to counter drug use.
a quick pat down on the door. and sent in on your merry way with a wallet full of party supplies. come on srsly?.

kryal castle had dogs and cops and everything.

You must've only been to one Kryal by the way you're talking. The last one had dogs around a fair bit and look what that did? Probably made the whole situation worse. No dogs at any of the Kryal's prior to that and there was never anything "major" to report. The last one had quite a few blow outs.. Coincidence? Not sure..

And I don't believe the G around now is any stronger than it has been.. It's just retards that don't know what they're doing. It is, after all, rather easy to have too much. People are making it out to be as if it's hard to blow out saying "ohh must've been a bad batch".. get real.

 

[Doctor War]

I'm very glad G hasn't really caught on here in WA... Seems like you guys are getting a lot of unfair and undue heat and problems at parties because of it!

 

[repress]

Funny, I heard about this 'bad batch' before I heard about what happened at X-qlusive. 2 kids from down my way had (apparently) 2mL each and ended up in Hospital.

 

[drplatypus]

8) Yawn... Here we go again... Every year, a Christmas drug story. We plotted the incidence of drug media coverage vs month, and every year, we have the Christmas rush. This year, it's a 'bad batch' of G...
I see no evidence of a bad batch of drugs- just another generation of immoderate consumers, learning about G the hard way. The medical jury on G has left the building... what consumers choose to do with what we know is up to them, but I for one won't be devastated by any news of deaths from GHB, if it comes. It's sad, but hardly news...
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_06_200904/cal10128_fm.html

 

[claire22]

idiots get G, don't use a proper oral syringe to measure the dosage and just swig out of the bottle!? i have seen somebody do this, absolutely STUPID.
you must get G from a reliable source and someone who has tried and tested it but NOT dealing it, as they can just lie about its potency, so you will buy it.
G is reasonably safe if taken in reasonable, measured dosage! & not mixed with ANY alcohol!
my idiotic friend ended up in the ER after taking a scull of G from a water bottle (thought it was blue powerade) this is another common mistake. people get fucked up by sculling it thinking it is a drink.
also another stupid one took G, fine dosage, then goes and chugs two beers(thinking its fine..) ends up in the back of the ambulance.
everything is fine if CONTROLLED. never take more than 2mL accurately measured at a time, you do not know how strong this is til you try that batch. if it doesn't kick in too well take another 1mL but WAIT HALF AN HOUR before re-dosing!
i like liquid g, but im always very wary of it.
it has a lot of stigma surrounding it everyone thinking it causes so many deaths (only in dumb fucks who aren't careful!)
im sick of these stories & comments from un-educated people about the 'stupidity' of the 'youth of today' how it is 'disgraceful' etc. I'd personally advise not to use G @ raves etc.
But i guess they will anyway!
the government does a great job of making it look 'evil'. as they do! they need a bloody wake-up call . if every1 was blind drunk instead so many people would be either;
a) alcohol poisoning !
b) fighting
c) just in general being fucktards who aren't careful

i hate the government. fucking tools.

 

[lil angel15]

I’m sorry Dr P but this is one occasion when I have to disagree with your sentiments. Not only is any death from a substance sad, it’s also devastating to the family, the associates and the community that surrounds the user. I would ask that you separate your desensitisation to the extreme negative consequences of illicit drug use and remember that the person on the other end of the often irresponsible use is still a human being that deserves the same amount of consideration that you have always offered throughout your career.

Lil

 

[claire22]

^valid point, he prob didn't mean it in that disrespectful way but it sounded bad

 

[drplatypus]

Thank you 'lil Angel.

I'll agree with you that the effects of a death from overdose can be devastating for the family- it's usually doctors who have to tell them, and I've had more than my fair share of that.

If you look at what I wrote, I've said that I won't be devastated, and I suspect I'd be fairly representative of many of my medical colleagues, if not a little more liberal. Having read and contributed to these threads for several years now, I am jaded with the number of people who insist that X or Y, or whatever their flavour is, is completely safe. The medical literature is littered with examples showing that nothing really is- I know, I write it. I've argued regularly about peoples rights to their own cognitive liberty, but draw the line at accepting that any of the behaviour described in these threads can be described as safe.

When I deal with 'devastated' people, the element that elevates them from a state of mere sadness to that of 'devastation' is the astonishment of an unexpected occurence. I think that relatives that I speak to are frequently 'devastated' in that way, when they didn't fully understand the extent of their loved ones drug use. When they have had to deal with a series of hospital admissions, representing only the tip of the iceberg of the behavioural pain associated with chronic use, they are often resigned about the loss of loved one; sad, sometimes profoundly sad, but infrequently 'devastated' to the point that they cannot function. They have done their grieving in the preceding decade.

Once again, I'll be sad if someone dies from an illicit drug overdose, but I expect that it will happen again soon, and so I won't be devastated. Sorry.

 

[hoptis]

Rave on but keep it safe
Article from: Herald Sun
Alice Coster
December 25, 2008 12:00am

RAVE revellers are being urged to party hard, but party safe this summer.

Dance events company Hard Kandy director Scott Alert said educating young people at parties and raves was one of the most important ways to get the no-drugs message to Australia's youth.

He said clubs and events can have a positive impact on the attitude of young people towards drugs.

"Education and information is the number one priority," Mr Alert said.

He said information stalls at party venues helped inform revellers about responsible behaviour.

"The solution is not to shut down our scene or parties because that will create a bigger problem," he said.

"People are still going to go out and party and if they aren't coming into venues they will do it on the streets or in parks."

Director of Post Drug Healing and Training Centre Brett Pascoe said working with event organisers such as Hard Kandy encouraged responsible party behaviour.

"Parties can be a place of fun and education as well as place to enjoy great music," he said.

"It creates an opportunity to engage with people, dance and have fun without doing hard drugs."

Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman urged partygoers to play safe over the summer dance season.

"Go out there and have fun. Party hard, but party safe."

Hard Kandy runs the Billboard nightclub event Christmas Kandy, wrongly named in the Herald Sun as the rave party where several drug overdoses happened on Saturday night.

Hard Kandy said it has a zero tolerance to drugs.

"We create a unique environment that is number one as far as reputation goes in looking after people," Mr Alert said.

"We try to be positive role models. We try and look at the cause of the problem and why people are turning to drugs."

If you have any problems with drugs, or addiction issues, you can go to www.postdrughealing.com.au.

Herald Sun

 

[claire22]

Rave on but keep it safe
Article from: Herald Sun
Alice Coster
December 25, 2008 12:00am

RAVE revellers are being urged to party hard, but party safe this summer.

well this is nothing new, they do this every single year!

Dance events company Hard Kandy director Scott Alert said educating young people at parties and raves was one of the most important ways to get the no-drugs message to Australia's youth.

educating AT parties & raves?! i doubt any partygoers are going to listen/care. 99% are aware of the effects of drugs, & no "educating" is going to get them to change their mind, no scare-tactics etc.

He said clubs and events can have a positive impact on the attitude of young people towards drugs.

"Education and information is the number one priority," Mr Alert said.

He said information stalls at party venues helped inform revellers about responsible behaviour.

as i said before, they are not going to listen. if they have the intention of taking drugs, they will! & so 'information stall' is going to alter their opinion.
(i may be wrong, but thats just from my experience)

 

[js2k6]

i've been to a few kryal events. 3 actually.
i was only referring to the last one.

i was just trying to make the point, that they don't make any effort to stop people from bringing drugs into festival hall, then people blow out / "overdose" and rather than implement preventative measures. theyre just gonna stop the venues from getting the licenses and permits needed. it sucks. it really shits me.

i call my mate a filthy juicehead and told him, that he's singlehandedly destroying the rave scene. lol but he pays about as much attention to me saying that as i would pay attention to someone telling me not to use pills, acid and ice at an event.

this just sucks so bad.
i'm hoping that its not actually the end of events like this.

the clubs we have in melbourne for the most part are pretty good, but they pale in comparison to going to see someone like technoboy live @ transmission... or any of the other big events i've been to in the past few years.

You must've only been to one Kryal by the way you're talking. The last one had dogs around a fair bit and look what that did? Probably made the whole situation worse. No dogs at any of the Kryal's prior to that and there was never anything "major" to report. The last one had quite a few blow outs.. Coincidence? Not sure..

And I don't believe the G around now is any stronger than it has been.. It's just retards that don't know what they're doing. It is, after all, rather easy to have too much. People are making it out to be as if it's hard to blow out saying "ohh must've been a bad batch".. get real.

 

[phase_dancer]

educating AT parties & raves?! i doubt any partygoers are going to listen/care. 99% are aware of the effects of drugs, & no "educating" is going to get them to change their mind, no scare-tactics etc.

Having spent the last ten years doing just this, I have to say I disagree completely. Part of our success can be measured by the number of party goers who, after being assisted by RaveSafe, end up joining the team and therefore abstain while attending events. Indeed, most the long term RaveSafers are ex users or these days only use on special occasions. For some of these volunteers, this certainly wasn't always the case.

We don't give the big 'Don't ever do it' rant, but rather offer a range of worthwhile services generally seen as being valuable by punters and officials alike. Among other things, we provide a lush and comfy space, have teams doing crowd spraying, give HR related advice/info for those requesting it, and offer one on one assistance to those needing it.

I believe its all about approach. Sure, some people aren't open to being told, but unless someone needs urgent medical attention, we don't push any message. More often than not, we find people are interested in learning how to reduce the negative impacts that drugs and alcohol can have on their lives.