Police, doctor issue drug warning

1:10p.m. 6th January 2009

Police issued a warning in December, 2008, after "death" or PMA was found on the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Contributed

Police believe illicit drugs have caused a woman's death in Brisbane and the hospitalisation of three people on the Sunshine Coast over the past week.

Officers believe a 28-year-old woman who died at a Gordon park home on Brisbane's north side had taken two ecstasy tablets during New Year's Eve celebrations in Fortitude Valley.

North coast region police are also investigating three people who were taken to a Sunshine Coast hospital after taking what is believed to be fantasy, also known as GHB.

Queensland Health metro north clinical director for alcohol and drug services, Dr Jeremy Hayllar, said people were risking their lives if they took fantasy.

“There is no way to be certain what they’re getting when they buy street drugs," he said.

"And they may not appreciate the risks they are running.

“In addition, if a user is also consuming alcohol, they may underestimate the combined impact of the alcohol with the drug, or mistake the strength of the drug they’ve taken, both risking disastrous consequences.”

Queensland Police acting superintendent Steve Holahan said people who took an illicit drug often had no idea who had made the substance or how it had been made.

"We are not talking about someone mixing these drugs in laboratories using exact measurements," he said.

"Often these drugs are mixed in someone’s garage or backyard using hazardous or toxic material."

Last month, Sunshine Coast police revealed they had seized $5m worth of assets from alleged drug criminals since September.

The announcement came as police allegedly discovered 1.2kg of cocaine in a car at Kawana and more than 600 ecstasy tablets at an Alexandra Headland unit.

Police also issued a warning about a drug with the street name "death" in December.

Recent Comments

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Posted by buderimbob from Buderim

on 6 January, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I have always believed that education is the best method to teach youngsters about the ills of drug taking.The media may have a part to play but a captive audience in the classroom with use of DVDs and an experienced presenter will leave an indelible memory that many children will remember during their most impressionable years.
The school curriculum is crowded with content to the detriment of the basic Three Rs but Health issues relating to drug taking should be foremost on any schools'curriculum. Most teachers are inexperienced on drug issues therefore professional presenters should be employed.

Posted by JustThinking from Kawana

on 6 January, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Absolutely agree that we should never give up on drug education.

Mind you though, I do believe there has been ample information and education through the schools and media over the past few decades. Nowdays, pretty much anyone who puts an illicit drug (and excess alcohol and tobacco) in their system is well aware that there may be life threatening consequences. It's an absolute fool's game.

Posted by Jason from Pomona

on 6 January, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The two "ecstasy" pills that killed the 28 year in Brisbane are suspected to be a drug called PMA. Prohibition played a hand in her death, instead of a reliable source of MDMA, people are getting dangerous substitutes. If these types of drugs are going to be unregulated and left to criminals to distribute, people have and will die.

There use to be MDMA testing kits and some clubs use to offer testing of ecstasy for purity. The authorities preferred to see people dead.

Whilst it's true people choose to take these drugs it's also true that prohibition places people in danger by encouraging poor quality and often dangerous replacements.

Prohibition is profitable and it kills.

Posted by whatthea from Maroochydore

on 6 January, 2009 at 10:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

If people don't know by know that drugs kill well they deserve the result.

Posted by sunnyone44 from Mooloolaba

on 7 January, 2009 at 5:41 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Jason of Pomona what part of ILLEGAL DRUGS dont you understand.Call them anything you want but if a drug has been deemed to be illegal it is just that ILLEGAL . This means if you are caught with this drug in your possesion you run the very real risk of going to gaol. How can anyone justify or blame the restriction of these illegal drugs for the bad quality of other drugs is beyond my comprehesion .it appears that you are actually trying to validate the taking of these drugs that destroy lives and kill people.Your attitude begs me to ask if you are sitting on your brains because you sure are not putting them to good use with these sort of statements.

Posted by sav77 from Currumundi

on 7 January, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Here we go again. Please people stop listening to their propaganda.
Department of Health States the following:
Causes Of Deaths In Australia:
TOBACCO- 19019
ALCOHOL- 2831
MOTOR VEHICLE- 1731
ILLEGAL DRUGS- 863
MURDER- 203
So in other words, the Government knowingly sells death to it's citizens, all in order to reap the taxes made. Than go around arresting others for selling drugs, they don't make taxes from.

Posted by sunnygirl from Maroochydore

on 7 January, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Sunnyone44,

I think what Jason is trying to say is, that although drugs are illegal (and I don't beleive he is condoning them by his comment), people are going to take them regardless.

What is being said is that, we are aware people take drugs, legal or not. Yes they shouldn't do it, however, if there was testing perhaps less of these people may die from bad batches.

Needle disposal units are available in most public toilets, are we condonig drug use by providing these? No, we are aware that people take drugs and are trying to prevent other people being affected.

Testing units would not be condoning drug taking but hopefully saving some lives from stupid choices.

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