Police warn against synthetic drugs

Police warn against synthetic drugs

Monday, 10 March 2014 - 4:26pm

Canterbury

Christchurch Police are warning people about the dangers of synthetic LSD-type drugs after four people were admitted to hospital on Saturday night

Police were called to a Woolston address around 9pm on Saturday to assist ambulance staff who were attending a party where several men were reported to have taken a synthetic LSD-type substance.

A number of the men were reported to be highly aggressive, agitated and uncontrolled. Four were taken to hospital, and had to be restrained and accompanied by Police while being transported.

Three have been discharged while one remains in hospital. Police inquiries are continuing and no charges have been laid in relation to the incident at this stage.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Hill says the weekend incident is one of the first cases to come to Police attention involving multiple people at one event being affected by NBOMe substances - a class of synthetic hallucinogenic drugs.

"We are definitely noticing the presence of these substances in Canterbury more frequently, and we are aware of other previous hospital admissions." he says.

"Although there have been relatively few adverse incidents, Police and Customs have made a number of seizures of these substances. Most of them have been purchased online through Silk Road or similar online sellers.

"The increasing activity is definitely of concern because of the risk to the health of those using synthetic drugs.

"Overseas research shows these drugs have been linked to a number of deaths, and the weekend incident here shows that the effects can be unpredictable and highly dangerous."

Detective Sergeant Hill says Police are working closely with Customs and other agencies nationwide to target users and distributors of the substances.

ENDS

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