B
babydoc_vic
Guest
There was an article on page 15 of yesterdays Saturday Age that mentioned this. I will quote some relevent passages in no particular order.
Cate Quinn, manager of the Drug Branch at Victorian Forensic Science Centre estimates that "probably less than 5 or even 2 percent (of pills) contain real MDMA'. 'The "real stuff" is usually imported from Britain or Holland.'
"I have not come across a manufacturer in Australia who has produced real MDMA" confirms Det. S.C. Matt Bunning of the Drug Squad. "More than 90 percent is made here, and isn't really ecstasy. Most of it's amphetamines, but we recently came across heroin, cocaine and amphetamines together in the same pill."
It also goes on to say "In recent years, analysis of Australian made tablets has revealed a sharp rise in the use of Ketamine". "We're also seeing paracetamol, the stimulants pseudeoephedrine and ephedrine; and heroin, codeine and cocaine all mixed up in the one tablet. And we've found tiny pieces of LSD pressed inside tablets" says Quinn. "We're finding benzodiazepines temazepam, diazepam and Rohypnol. There's sometimes caffeine. We've also found promethazine, a motion sickness medication, which makes you feel woozy, cloudy, dissociated".
"Local producers hear about a popular, high-quality tablet doing the round of overseas clubs. They then copy the design of the original tablet, capitalising on its reputation by making a pill that looks identical but contains no MDMA".
"The rise in ecstasy's popularity has been a boon for local speed producers looking to maximise their earnings", says Bunning . "People who have previously sold speed have found that if they buy a pillpress they can turn $10 of speed into a $50 pill. The market is prepared to pay a lot more for a tablet".
It also states "the vigilance of Australian customs probably has an indirect effect on the situation:since customs first identified ecstasy as a separate category of drug in 1994-5, both smuggling attempts and customs seizures have risen dramatically".
Cate Quinn, manager of the Drug Branch at Victorian Forensic Science Centre estimates that "probably less than 5 or even 2 percent (of pills) contain real MDMA'. 'The "real stuff" is usually imported from Britain or Holland.'
"I have not come across a manufacturer in Australia who has produced real MDMA" confirms Det. S.C. Matt Bunning of the Drug Squad. "More than 90 percent is made here, and isn't really ecstasy. Most of it's amphetamines, but we recently came across heroin, cocaine and amphetamines together in the same pill."
It also goes on to say "In recent years, analysis of Australian made tablets has revealed a sharp rise in the use of Ketamine". "We're also seeing paracetamol, the stimulants pseudeoephedrine and ephedrine; and heroin, codeine and cocaine all mixed up in the one tablet. And we've found tiny pieces of LSD pressed inside tablets" says Quinn. "We're finding benzodiazepines temazepam, diazepam and Rohypnol. There's sometimes caffeine. We've also found promethazine, a motion sickness medication, which makes you feel woozy, cloudy, dissociated".
"Local producers hear about a popular, high-quality tablet doing the round of overseas clubs. They then copy the design of the original tablet, capitalising on its reputation by making a pill that looks identical but contains no MDMA".
"The rise in ecstasy's popularity has been a boon for local speed producers looking to maximise their earnings", says Bunning . "People who have previously sold speed have found that if they buy a pillpress they can turn $10 of speed into a $50 pill. The market is prepared to pay a lot more for a tablet".
It also states "the vigilance of Australian customs probably has an indirect effect on the situation:since customs first identified ecstasy as a separate category of drug in 1994-5, both smuggling attempts and customs seizures have risen dramatically".
