PARTY DRUG'S ILL EFFECTS YET TO HIT SOUTHERN REVELLERS

No Southlanders had landed in hospital yet from overdosing on the new party
drug One4b, a Southland Hospital spokeswoman said yesterday.

Perioperative patient services manager Lexie O'Shea said no patients had
been admitted to either Queenstown or the Invercargill hospital suffering
from the effects of the drug.

"It's come as far south as Christchurch definitely, but we're awaiting our
first case," Ms O'Shea said.

The Health Ministry on Monday issued a rare public warning urging people
not to take the drug.

It also ordered distributor Outerspace to withdraw the drug from sale.

Four Aucklanders have overdosed on the drug in recent days and doctors fear
someone will die.

Three of the four people had been comatose on admittance and all were
suffering breathing problems and seizures.

Director-General of Health Dr Karen Poutasi said One4b may have breached
the Food Act and possibly the Medicines Act. If it had, its distributors
were likely to be prosecuted.

Outerspace owner Mark Barlow said he had handed all his stock to the
ministry and had recalled the remaining product.