"Party Poison: $10 'high' has teens on life support" Gold Coast Bulletin 18/3/02 by Steve Hunt
"Two young people were placed on life support and five others collapsed after a series of weekend overdoses linked to the party drug fantasy.
the drug - that costs as little as $10 a hit - has been responsible for a wave of overdoses in the city over the past three weeks.
Health authorities yesterday warned the popular nightclub drug could kill quickly.
Fantasy as first exposed as a party favourite in October 1996 when 10 people were taken to hospital after overdosing on the drug at a Broadbeach party."
(Next Report)
"Teen Clubbies gamble with cheap death: $10 hit puts 2 on life support" By Steve Hunt
Seven young people collapsed and two of them were placed on life support after a series of weekend overdoses linked to the party drug fantasy.
Two taken from a Surfers Paradise night-spot were placed on life support in the Gold Coast hospital on Saturday night after going into respiratory arrest.
However, medical authorities warn some fantasy overdose cases never get to hospital.
"I know there are some people who don't make it, but we don't get to see the people downstairs in the morgue," said Dr David Spain, senior staff specialist at the hospitals Accident and Emergency Department.
The drug can be bought on the streets of Surfers Paradise for as little as $10 a hit.
Dr Spain confirmed there had been an upsurge in the number of overdose cases in the past three weeks.
Saturday nights higher number prompted medical staff to issue a warning of the potency and danger of the drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which is labled "Greivous Bodily Harm" by the party set.
"There's definately been an increase in the number of overdoses in the past two or three weeks,' said Dr Spain. "On Saturday night two of them were serious cases and they were placed in intensive care. They needed to be ventilated to support their breathing. They were in a bad way."
All victims have recovered and have been released from hospital.
Last Tuesday, two people spent the night in intensive care after becoming unconscious because of fantasy.
Dr Spain said the drug could kill patients quickly.
"The major problem is that they lose their ability to breath. It is quite poisonous and extremely concentrated," he said.
"It can kill someone if they are not helped rapidly. My message would be to those trying fantasy is to not take it alone. Thats when people die. If you're taking it, tell people you are with what you are taking."
The latest cases have prompted police to warn recreational drug users not to use the popular drug, which is so dangerous because it comes in a condensed form.
"Fantasy is a problem even if it's taken in small doses. It is very, very dangerous," said regional duty officer Inspector Tony Marks yesterday.
"Anybody who purchases it is likely to get some crook stuff," said Insp Marks.
"Its manufactured in backyards and it's filled with all sorts of additives," he said.
Fantasy was first exposed as a party drug on the Gold Coast in October 1996, when 10 people aged from 18 to 30 were hospitalised.
Eight were taken into intensive care after taking the drug at a Broadbeach nightclub. They were found at daybreak, unconscious in the gutter outside the club, and all had stopped breathing.
Fantasy is a clear syrupy liquid but sometimes it is artificially coloured, mostly blue, to make it more attractive to young users.
GHB first emerged in British dance and rave scene in the mid 1990's.
A woman who overdosed on the drug two years ago yesterday added to the chorus of people warning of the dangers of using it.
"I remember taking it and feeling great and then I remember nothing until I woke up in hospital with a bruised chest."
