Gold Coast Police are yet to determine the exact drug believed to be responsible for sixteen hospitalisations in the region this weekend.
Yesterday, five people were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital after experiencing severe hallucinations at a party in Mermaid Waters. Later, three others were hospitalised in a similar condition after falling ill at a Surfers Paradise hotel.
Early this morning, a cluster of people were hospitalised around the Cavill Avenue and Orchid Avenue precinct, some of whom had to be sedated after demonstrating extreme aggression. Another man in nearby Labrador was also taken to hospital.
Two of those victims have been placed in induced comas.
Facing the media earlier today, Superintendent Michelle Stenner said “we’re still running investigations as to what it actually was that these persons have taken.”
Supt. Stenner told reporters the hospitalised individuals “chose to take these substances, not knowing where they’re made from, not knowing who’s providing it to them, not knowing what the consequences are.”
Queensland Ambulance Services operations supervisor Stephen Burns explained those “consequences,” saying “they were conscious and alert, but they were just doing abnormal things and were really a danger to themselves and others.”
Queensland Ambulance Services operations supervisor Stephen Burns explained those “consequences,” saying “they were conscious and alert, but they were just doing abnormal things and were really a danger to themselves and others.”
According to him, the sheer density of overdoses is the worst he’s seen in his career.
There is some speculation the drug in question is “flakka,” more commonly referred to as bath salts. Regardless of its exact make-up, there are serious fears this batch will still be around when Schoolies kicks off next month.
