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DRUG WARNING: More dangerous than usual batch of MDMA
DRUG WARNING: More dangerous than usual batch MDMA (Ecstacy) in circulation in Canterbury
On
Saturday night 24 and into Sunday 25 Feb, Christchurch
Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) had nine patients
present with symptoms and side effects associated with
having taken an MDMA-containing substance, more commonly
known as Ecstasy. They arrived in an agitated state, with
dangerously high blood pressure and an elevated high heart
rate.
As these presentations to ED happened in such a short space of time and in one place, a faulty batch may be responsible and we want to warn the public of the risks of taking Ecstasy and similar drugs, and that because of a possibly faulty batch, the risk in Christchurch at this particular time is greater than ever. It reinforces the fact that you can never be sure exactly what is in an illicitly supplied drug, and that the effects on your health can be severe and long-lasting, even fatal.
Do not take this drug, and if you or someone you know has taken some and is experiencing unusually severe effects or symptoms as listed below, call 111 or get a ‘sober driver’ to drive you to ED straight away. If you know someone who has a supply, please advise them of this message.
If you have recently obtained a supply of this drug, our advice is to destroy it. The best course of action in this case would be to flush it –not normally a recommended method of disposal for any drug, but preferable to keeping the drug and safer than disposing to landfill.
The Emergency Department advises that people who have taken this batch of MDMA may be agitated, have dangerously high blood pressure or a racing heart. Damage to the heart can be permanent and other effects of the drug can lead to longer term mental health problems. Severe effects such as kidney failure, heart attacks and seizures may also occur.
Other symptoms and immediate effects of MDMA typically
include:
• Dehydration.
• Hyperthermia – very
high body temperature
• Grinding teeth and clenching of
the jaw
• Insomnia.
• Increased perspiration and
sweating.
For an example of the potential severity
of MDMA poisoning, visit
http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2012/07/03/must-read-paper-12-cases-of-mdma-ecstasy-toxicity-from-a-rave-party/
ENDS
Canterbury DHB
CDHB
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the
Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.
We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.
At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.
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