Death drug hits girls

Two friends are lucky to be alive after taking the latest designer drug to hit the Territory nightclub scene.

The women were rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital after collapsing and suffering severe convulsions.

"They were frothing at the mouth and nose," police were told. The women are believed to have taken two so-called red mitsubishis each.

The drug has been on the market in Australia for only a few months but it has already killed two people.

They were a teenage girl in Sydney and a 38-year-old man in Adelaide.

Dozens of other people have suffered overdoses.

Red mitsubishis are made from ecstasy and caffeine.

They have a delayed effect, which tempts users to take more than one.

The Darwin women -- aged 21 and 27 -- are reported to have taken two tablets each.

"Apparently, they took one each and thought they were duds because there was no quick effect," a source said. "So they took another."

One woman collapsed inside the nightclub and the other outside at 4.30am on Wednesday.

Police last night warned of the dangers of the drugs.

"These tablets are not recreational or party drugs as they are often badged," Commander Max Pope said. "They are dangerous drugs made by untrained and unqualified people in unhygienic conditions.

"Deaths and serious injuries have occurred from taking these drugs. This is a warning to those people who experiment with drug taking."

Police urged the public to report drug dealers to 131 444.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 27th November 2004
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Nigel Adlam