NEWS: news.com.au - 19/02/07 'Womans death linked to ecstacy use'

[Flinch]

Why is there always such an uproar when someone dies after taking E, but 100's die every year from alcohol :S

 

[hoptis]

Missed this one; quoting johnboy...

Death drug may become health crisis: expert
Thursday February 22, 2007
By Wade O'Leary

The drug that is believed to have killed Sydney woman Annabel Catt is a toxic hallucinogen that some experts fear may become more widespread as police crack down on ecstasy production.

Professor Gordian Fulde of St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney says paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) increases blood pressure and body temperature to a point where "you just cook from the inside" as body cells melt and burst.

"It's different from all other amphetamines," he said. "It's a very dirty, nasty drug.

"It's more likely to give you side effects — you feel unwell, bad things happen to you."

Bluelight Drugs Forum convenor John Davidson believes PMA is "more dangerous than anything you can take in pill form", with a danger of suffering a fatality from consuming a single dose.

"I understand (Annabel) took the drug in capsule form and that it hadn't been pressed into a pill, and that's important," he say. "That would suggest this particular batch is not being widely distributed right now.

"If PMA goes into major circulation — if a batch of pills sold as ecstasy is actually PMA — and a large number of people are struck down with this girl's symptoms, then that would be an absolute disaster from a health perspective.

"Hospitals would be completely overwhelmed by the level of care required to treat victims."

The emergence of PMA can be explained by the huge popularity of ecstasy — and the profits to be made from its sale — coming under pressure from ever-tougher policing of narcotics.

When MDMA — ecstasy in pure form — first hit Australia in the 1980s it was imported, but local manufacturing grew as Customs developed more effective means of detection.

But as police have improved monitoring and policing of the precursors (ingredients) that make MDMA, Mr Davidson says drugmakers may now be turning to other substances — including PMA — to meet the 100,000 pills-per-week demand that is believed to exist in Australia today.

"The reason we see PMA is that it's made in exactly the same way as MDMA is but with different chemicals, and these chemicals aren't monitored as closely as those in MDMA," he says.

"If you get your hands on one of the main ingredients of MDMA then you'd better have a very good reason ready, because the government and police are going to looking over your shoulder.

"This is much less likely when making PMA."

The NSW coroner has announced that PMA was found in Ms Catt's body during an initial toxicology survey, and while this has not been confirmed as the cause of death it has prompted police to issue a warning about the drug.

"We remind people that the content, potency and effects of these drugs are an absolute unknown and anyone taking them is gambling with their lives," NSW Police Drug Squad commander Greig Newbury says.

It is a warning thousands of people ignore every week, and Professor Fulde fears that drugmakers and dealers won't worry about sacrificing more lives in the name of illicit profits.

"The reality is they just want to make money, and if they get stuck with PMA they just want to offload it by passing it off as ecstasy or whatever," he says.

Ninemsn

 

[xcidium]

"It's different from all other amphetamines," he said. "It's a very dirty, nasty drug.

Yay for other amphetamines?

 

[chugs]

But they say they will not identify the colour or logo of the pill Ms Catt took because they do not want to create the impression some tablets are safer than others.

that is fucking criminal -

it'll be at the feet of the fucking pigs the next person to die from these caps, fuckers deserve to burn - purposely holding back information that can save someones life. How can they live with themselves - a life vs an empty, false, and completely useless rhetoric.

Can this world get anymore insane.

And bringing Tony Wood into it - a bitter burned out man too engulfed in his grief to not be able to see beyond pointless revenge.

throw away the key eh, why can't you apply that reasoning from the cops who won't tell us squat about this killer on the street.

 

[lil angel15]

The police have now released images of the pills and capsules that have been tested and returned positive results for PMA.

They can be seen in this thread----->*IMPORTANT* Latest Information on Pills Containing PMA *IMPORTANT*

Keep in mind that the pictured pills and capsules have tested positive to PMA but this does not mean there are not other presses out there that may contain the same substance.

 

[phase_dancer]

"If you get your hands on one of the main ingredients of MDMA then you'd better have a very good reason ready, because the government and police are going to looking over your shoulder.

"This is much less likely when making PMA."

absolutely

"It's different from all other amphetamines," he said. "It's a very dirty, nasty drug.

Yes and no. There are several other amphetamines, most notably the mon-substituted, para halogenated amphetamines that, with the exception of the fluoro analogue - are extremely (and irreversibly) toxic to serotonin neurons. These, too, would be relatively easy to synthesize

 

[hoptis]

LETTER
Harm minimisation saves lives, even under attack
Date: February 28 2007

It has been 10 years since my son Damien died from a heroin overdose. The pain is still there; life goes on, but you never get over the loss. Damien would have been 33 - his death is our family's personal tragedy.

The greater tragedy is that since his death more than 6060 Australians have died from illicit drugs; probably 40,000 have died from alcohol and God knows how many from the effects of nicotine.

In a letter to the Herald in June 1997 I questioned our national drug strategy and suggested there had to be better ways of dealing with these issues. Following my letter I received hundreds of calls from affected families and eventually we founded Family Drug Support.

So what has happened to Australia's drug policy and strategies over the past 10 years? There has been some progress. Governments have increased funding and families are now accepted as a valuable resource to aid in the treatment and recovery of drug users.

The medically supervised injecting centre at Kings Cross was a step forward. Unfortunately, it still receives ill-informed criticism from opponents - usually based on moral grounds rather than evidence.

Drug trends have changed. Heroin is in shorter supply and this has thankfully meant a drop in overdose fatalities. This positive news is offset by an increase in the use of stimulants and we have the recent impact of crystal meth, or ice. The impact of stimulants on families is different because of the unpredictable and often violent behaviour associated with ice use.

There are other disappointments. Community attitudes are driven by rabid media commentators and politics that are misinformed and misguided. There is a constant attack on harm minimisation when in reality it saves lives. We support strategies such as needle and syringe programs and the injecting centre but we get labelled as condoning or promoting drug use. Nothing could be further from the truth. No family supports drug use. Abstinence is a family's dream and goal. The truth is, though, it takes time and many attempts before people find full recovery; harm minimisation strategies can keep people alive until they become ready to change.

Ten years later, there is still much to do. Maybe one step would be to allow drug testing at venues so users can test whether the product they have bought is what they believe it to be. This may prevent more tragedies such as the recent sad loss of a vibrant 20-year-old woman.

Tony Trimingham Family Drug Support, Leura

SMH

 

[Splatt]

This guy is smart. You can see him get interrupted (as well as Johnboy) by Anna Woods Dad babbling on about shit he knows nothing about. in the SBS Insight about H.R. which might still be available on Enlighten.org.au under media.

 

[hoptis]

Woman accused of dance death
April 20, 2007 12:00

A SYDNEY woman charged after the death of dance teacher Annabel Catt was allegedly supplying ecstasy and the rare drug PMA, according to court documents.

Ms Catt, 20, of Elanora Heights on Sydney's northern beaches, died after taking illicit drugs at the Good Vibrations music festival in Sydney's Centennial Park in February.

The NSW Police Force later issued a drug warning to the public, after toxicology results showed the presence of the rare drug paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA).

Bodene Sheed, 21, of Mona Vale, was charged in February after police launched an investigation into the supply of drugs at the Good Vibrations event.

Court documents show Sheed has been charged with one count of supplying methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), usually found in ecstasy, and one count of supplying PMA at Centennial Park.

The date of the dance party was February 17, but police have dated the offence as happening between February 13 and 21.

Sheed, who faced Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, has not been charged over Ms Catt's death.

The drug supply charges have been adjourned to the same court on May 16.

Dailly Telegraph

 

[Morissey]

Now we all know pills can contain nasty psychoactive chemicals like PMA, or mixes of MDA and MDMA, or speed and MDxx that can greatly increase chances of harm, but what about the "inactives" that some dodgey pressers throw into their mix. I'm talking anti bioitcs, women's pills, pain killers, aspirin and other anti inflammatries.. just random expired medecines stolen from pharmacy bins, whatever. It's all going in there.

Does this really happen and what would be the point in them doing this?

 

[Splatt]

a) they don't care. b) They work as good binders. c) believe it or not some of the meds change the experience somewhat, for the better or worse. I'm not saying it's all that common but it would happen a lot with locally made dodgey pill press jobs.

 

[lil angel15]

Ecstasy accused faces court
June 29, 2007 12:00am

THE woman accused of supplying the party drugs that killed Sydney dance teacher Annabel Catt.

Bodene Sheed, 21, made her long-awaited appearance at the Downing Centre Local Court yesterday, having been excused from attending on previous occasions.

Her barrister Anthony Jamieson told the court the Mona Vale woman intended to plead guilty to two charges of supplying a prohibited drug.

The lawyer said he was awaiting a psychological report before he formally entered the pleas.

Ms Catt died after attending the Good Vibrations music festival at Sydney's Centennial Park on February 17.

She was taken to hospital after collapsing at a house party in Warriewood the morning after the event.

PMA, or para-methoxyamphetamine, is thought to have caused her death. She apparently took the drug believing it to be ecstasy.

Ms Catt's father Peter told The Daily Telegraph yesterday his daughter was acquainted with Sheed but the pair had not been close.

He said he could not blame anyone for what happened to his daughter.

"We don't know the full circumstances," Mr Catt said.

"We have said from the word go we want people to learn from our daughter's mistake."

Mr Catt said his family were in constant contact with many of Annabel's friends.

"Annabel bought so much joy to our life," he said.

"We have a close association with her friends, they have gathered around and are all very close."

Attempting to hide her face as she emerged from the court complex yesterday, Sheed was hurried away by family members, one of whom attacked a press photographer.

The matter was adjourned to August 9 when her guilty plea is expected to be entered.

Daily Telegraph

 

[Splatt]

She is the one that originally supplied her known MDMA containing pills right? Then after that she and her friends bought PMA capsules inside the festival. So the original supplier shouldn't be up for any harsher penalties than a regular dealer. It was the girls choice to take them. They should be hunting the guy that sold them PMA. He would know he who is and if he doesn't turn himself into police and give them the story then he'll have it on his conscious the rest of his life.

 

[hoptis]

Once again, it's a disturbing trend when police go after people who supplied the ecstasy pills that kills someone. All this will achieve is to make people less likely to seek medical attention for friends who have become ill on drugs.

 

[Splatt]

Agreed.

 

[lil angel15]

Drug supply accused assisting police
Angela Kamper
August 09, 2007 12:30pm

Assisting police ... real estate agent Bodene Sheed is accused of supplying the drug which killed Annabel Catt.


THE woman accused of supplying a drug which killed Sydney dance teacher Annabel Catt is assisting police with information about others involved in the alleged drug deal.

Real estate agent Bodene Sheed left Downing Centre Local Court today hiding behind her sunglasses after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

Sheed, 22, had her sentence delayed for further inquiries by police where "other people" may be charged, the court heard.

Her barrister, Anthony Jamieson, told the court there were "still some short inquiries that needed to be dealt with" before his client was sentenced.

Magistrate Julie Huber asked him "you're talking about other charges?".

"Other people your honour," he replied.

Ms Huber asked him if there was to be a letter of comfort for his client who was assisting police with the investigation before her sentencing.

"A letter along those lines yes," he replied.

Her sentencing was adjourned to September 6 for police to conduct further inquiries.

Meanwhile detailed facts about what happened on the day Ms Catt took the drug at the Good Vibrations music festival at Sydney's Centennial Park were tendered in court.

Police allege Sheed, "negotiated with a person" to supply six ecstasy tablets at an agreed meeting place outside the festival about 2pm on February 17.

She passed the drugs on to one person who then dispersed them among a group that Ms Catt was part of.

Ms Catt died the morning after the festival.

She was taken to hospital after collapsing at a house party in Warriewood the morning after the event.

PMA, or para-methoxyamphetamine, is thought to have caused her death.

Sheed told police she had sold ecstasy tablets and the capsules were used by Catt and her friends.

"She also stated she had known the deceased for some time and had sold the capsules in the belief they contained MDMA," police facts said.

Daily Telegraph

 

[Splatt]

I thought that the PMA capsules were bought at Good Vibrations off a starnger, and not by the persaon they originally not MDMA pills from.

 

[hoptis]

Chasing down small-time dealers who are probably nothing more than users who are carrying extra or "helping out friends" might bring some sense of justice to the parents but will do nothing to eventually punish the person responsible.

How many people have to give someone up, how far up the tree, to point police to the actual manufacturer of these pills? So high and so far up the tree that it will simply never happen.

It's good to know the police are using their resources wisely to ensure such deaths don't happen again.

 

[tapout]

^ that said, is it really such a bad thing that the cops are going after the small people in this case, anyone along the distribution chain could have tested those pills and realised they had PMA in it and chose not to sell on. By not doing so a young woman is now dead. As far as im concerned you are just as responsible for someones death regardless if you were selling to a friend or a stranger, and if you were the manufacturer or just someone trying to offload a few pills so you can get a few freebies on the side. Yes the manufacturer is scum for producing this shit and i hope he/she gets what he/she deserves, but people all along the distribution chain were being just as unscrupulous by choosing profits over properly testing the pills.

my cents anyway.

 

[lil angel15]

120-hour sentence woman who supplied Annabel Catt with drug that killed her
By Gemma Jones
October 04, 2007 03:04pm

THE young woman who supplied the drug that killed Sydney dance teacher Annabel Catt was this afternoon sentenced to 120 hours community service.

Downing Centre Local Court was told Bodene Sheed, 22 from Mona Vale, was suffering from depression and anxiety over the death of her friend and was remorseful.

Magistrate Robert Williams told Ms Sheed he was sure she was aware of the tragic consequences of her actions, to which she replied: “I am”.

Her mother Marie Louise Sheed told the court her daughter lost her job, hardly slept and was suffering severely from depression: “She is suffering all the time. This has destroyed that girl."

Ms Catt, 20, collapsed at a house party after taking two capsules of what she believed to be ecstasy, or MDMA, at the Good Vibrations music festival on February 17 this year.

Ms Sheedy had pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

Daily Telegraph