An pressing well being warning has been issued over high-dose occasion drug tablets – some depicting the fictional character SpongeBob SquarePants – circulating in NSW.
Three kinds of the tablets, which include as much as twice the common quantity of MDMA often present in ecstasy tablets, have been discovered by well being authorities.
Two embrace blue tablets with distinctive Punisher and MYBRAND logos that include 216mg of MDMA every.
The third, a yellow pill with smiley face markings much like the fictional character SpongeBob SquarePants, accommodates 160mg of MDMA.
In an announcement, NSW Well being stated different medication together with cathinones, ketamine and ketamine analogues had been detected in MDMA tablets and capsules.
“The quantity of MDMA in a pill or capsule can fluctuate rather a lot, even inside the similar batch,” NSW Poisons Info Centre medical director Darren Roberts stated.
“The well being dangers from MDMA are tremendously elevated if excessive quantities (together with a number of doses) are consumed over a brief interval.”
In September, an identical warning was issued for one more batch of ecstasy drugs that includes a Gucci brand.
These drugs contained as much as 4 instances the quantity of MDMA present in common tablets.
Dr Roberts stated MDMA may trigger extreme agitation, raised physique temperature, seizures or suits, irregular coronary heart rhythm and dying.
He urged anybody who had taken medication and felt unwell to telephone triple-0.
“Scorching environments, similar to at music festivals, enhance the danger of hurt from MDMA,” Dr Roberts stated.
“Taking a break from dancing, searching for shade, and consuming water are essential measures to cut back the danger of overheating.
“There are groups of well-trained peer volunteers from applications similar to DanceWize NSW and medical suppliers who’re able to assist you at many main festivals. Different occasion employees are additionally skilled to assist patrons.”
Earlier this yr a person died after a suspected drug overdose on the Transmission Music Pageant in February.
Greater than 130 folks had been handled for warmth exhaustion and drug use on the similar occasion.
A 2022 report on drug traits in Australia discovered ecstasy use had declined over the earlier yr, sliding from 95 per cent in 2021 to 88 per cent in 2022.
