'Party drug' effects put man in intensive care

Rodney Edwards • Published 4 Mar 2010 14:37

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POLICE are investigating reports that a young Enniskillen man spent a week hospitalised in intensive care after taking a 'legal high'.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust refused to comment when we contacted them yesterday afternoon, but police sources have told this newspaper that they are taking the case "very seriously indeed" and know of at least one other individual who has been left "badly affected" by the party drug.

The news of this young man's shocking case comes as we unveil our own investigation today into the new drug craze that is blighting Fermanagh.

"I thought I was going to die. My heart was pounding, I was sweating the whole time. I felt totally scared, I was crying. I wanted it to stop so badly."

The words of one Fermanagh man after taking a party drug last Christmas. The so-called 'legal highs', which are the alternatives to illegal substances such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy, are now so popular here that you can order the stuff straight to your door with a takeaway within minutes.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, the 28-year-old former user revealed how he thought he was close to death after taking herbal ecstasy and laid bare the dangerous underworld of the new drugs craze.

"My girlfriend at the time was talking about how good it was, so we phoned up a delivery service and they brought it round ten minutes later. We both took it. My girlfriend wasn't too bad but when I took it I took a really bad reaction to it. 30 minutes later, it hit me. To begin with I was anxious but the next day was when it got worse. I couldn't sleep the entire night either. I just wanted to go to sleep. I was close to phoning an ambulance. I vomited the whole day; it was a disgusting green colour. I've never seen anything like it before in my life. The herbal stuff makes you feel more lively, bit more talkative, bit more spaced out. Now I'd rather take the real stuff," he said.

"There's this stuff all my mates are taking now. It's basically herbal cocaine. Before when you went to a house party, cocaine would be a rare enough thing. But now when you go to a house party, everyone knows where to get this herbal stuff. Everyone knows who to ring and it'll be delivered in minutes. Pretty much any house party, any gathering after a pub, or any birthday party I've been to the same delivery service is used. Any time at all. Everybody talks about it, discusses it or uses it. A friend of mine tried this stuff and he said he felt like he was floating, he felt he was 10 feet tall. I can't see why it's not illegal and the real stuff is, it's just as bad," he said.

During our investigation into 'legal highs' we have also discovered that in some cases suppliers here are using a loophole in the law by selling the drug under the guise of plant fertilizer or bath salts.

Furthermore we have also discovered just how easy it is to obtain the stuff in the county. We were offered 'legal highs' within three minutes of entering the Indoor Variety Market in Enniskillen and were also informed several times about a delivery service in the town that can supply the stuff to your doorstep in minutes.

And the internet is awash with websites selling 'legal highs' too from as little as £5.99. One website we found this week includes an advertisement from a Fermanagh seller, offering mephedrone, the drug which can actually cause anxiety, heart palpitations, convulsions and if taken with alcohol, police say, even death. The Enniskillen seller also stipulates that the minimum order must be at least 50 grams and that payment can be made via Western Union, MoneyGram or PayPal.

Mephedrone comes in white powder form and is snorted. Also known as "mcat" or "meow meow", its effects are similar to that of cocaine and ecstasy.

The Impartial Reporter can also reveal a list of the most popular party drugs currently doing the rounds and exactly what they can do to you if taken.

BZP (Benzylpiperazine), TFMPP, DBZP and mCPP - mimics the effects of MDMA. These piperazine compounds are sometimes found in illegal drugs like ecstasy. They are also used to make plastics, resins, pesticides, brake fluid and a variety of materials and products. Piperazine itself is used as an effective worming agent for pets and farm animals.

Happy caps - contain geranium extract and caffeine marketed to boost energy and "heighten awareness".

Salvia divinorum - rare plant found in Mexican mountains, smoked or chewed to give intense hallucinations. It drew controversy after the shock suicide of an American teenager who had used it.

Spice - studies show it is as powerful as some strains of strong cannabis and in some cases it is even advertised as an "aromatic potpourri".

But Snow Blow appears to be the most popular 'legal high'. The Caffeine-based powder is snorted to give an "energetic, lively high". Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Councillor Phil Flanagan, who has been contacted by many concerned constituents about the party drugs believes strict regulations is needed to combat the problem.

"I understand that these substances are very easy to come across in the Fermanagh and can be purchased from a number of retail outlets or ordered along with a take away meal for home delivery. This type of action means that children of any age can get their hands on these potentially fatal substances. I would also call on those in the Fermanagh area selling these products to act responsibly and to immediately stop selling these products.

"Those that are peddling these products are acting no better than common drug dealers and are simply exploiting the people of Fermanagh for their own personal gain without any regard for the safety of the individuals in question. Although they may be acting within the law, they should show a bit of decency and morality and stop ruining lives immediately. I believe distributors should be subjected to rigorous health and safety, produce description, product liability insurance and commercial/trade regulation," he said.

As we revealed last week, Fermanagh police are clamping down on 'legal highs' after a change in the law made some of the products illegal.

Inspector Roy Robinson warned: "If, at a future inspection, substances that were banned in December are found, proprietors will be reported to the PPS for prosecution."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Mar 10

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