Waikato doctor warns young people, party pills kill

Waikato Hospital emergency department doctor Tonia Nicholson today warned the public that party pills can and do kill.

Dr Nicholson, who published a paper on the prevalence of use of 'herbal party pills' in patients presenting to Waikato emergency department, says it is “scary” what can happen if young people take pills.

They can get agitated, have delirium be confused and depending on the dose and the effects, they can kill, she said.

“It’s very scary as a parent, as a grandparent. You’re looking at something that looks like a lolly, it doesn’t look harmful. It’s very scary that they are marketed this way,” she said.

Six teenage girls were treated in Waikato Hospital’s emergency department yesterday after they took pills at school. The pills resembled lollies.

Dr Nicholson said she had never seen so many young people at one time in the emergency department.

“They’re very lucky, things could have been a lot worse.”

If she had the opportunity to talk to the girls again she would say the following:

• You’re very lucky there were people at school who recognised there was a problem
• They are lucky they’ve got family and parents to go home to
• They should never, ever ever do it again
• Tell your friends the bad affects and how awful you felt at the time.
• Don’t take things unless you know what you’re taking because death can be the end result.

For parents, Dr Nicholson said it was important that they educated their children about the dangers of drugs.

“It only takes one pill to kill.”

Download the interview with Dr Nicholson and ED nursing manager Jenni Yeates here http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/news/pageid/2145874169/Doctor_warns_young_people_party_pills_kill

Read Dr Nicholson’s research: http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/119-1233/1954/

ENDS