ECSTASY ALERT AFTER DEATH AT DANCE PARTY

Police and health experts yesterday warned that a dangerous batch of ecstasy
had hit Sydney's streets after a young man died and 10 others were taken to
hospital during a rave party.

Police are investigating whether the victims at the Happy Valley Full Moon
Festival, in Sydney's south west, were sold "fake ecstasy", a tablet
containing dangerously high levels of LSD and methylamphetamine, or whether
they took a Dutch variety, which contains the poison strychnine.

Police were worried there would be more deaths of people being sold deadly
new amphetamines that they believe is ecstasy.

Chief Inspector Phil Holder said four other people were temporarily
hospitalised, including a 19-year-old woman who was found unconscious near
the dead man.

Throughout yesterday many of the 6,000 patrons sought medical treatment for
heart and breathing problems, nausea and dehydration. The ambulance took six
to hospital for check-ups.

A post-mortem will be held today on the 26-year-old Ryde man who collapsed
and died at 4.30am yesterday at the festival near Campbelltown.

The man, believed to be a supermarket manager, arrived at the rave in the
Cataract Scout Park about noon on Friday, and had been taking a cocktail of
alcohol and illicit drugs, friends said.

"He'd been awake for three days taking a lot of other drugs, drinking and
dancing," saidfriend, Jade.

Jade, 19, said she left her friend, who was a regular at rave parties, for a
few minutes to get them both water, and when she returned he was
unconscious.

"I don't think anything could have been done to prevent it [his death]. But
I think it was probably the ecstasy."

Inspector Holder said although there had been police at the festival it was
"impractical" and "impossible" to search everyone. "It's a shame that that
there is this culture where drugs and these events go together," he said.

At the entrance to the festival was a sign warning party-goers that the
promoter "does not accept any liability or risk of injury or loss" next to
another sign prohibiting alcohol from being brought into the park.

The promoter would not comment yesterday.

Mr Tristan Potter, 23, from Bexley, said friends camping near where the man
died were "pretty freaked out".

"They [security] worked on him for ages," said Mr Potter, who estimated 95
per cent of the party-goers were using some illicit drug or alcohol.

"Eccy, speed, cocaine - you name it, it's there. I think the thing here is a
combination of drugs and alcohol."

Patrons paid $60 for three-day tickets giving access to 12 venues including
seven dance areas, chill-out spaces and an outdoor cinema.

As people left the venue many said they had slept or danced through the
announcements asking people who felt unwell after taking ecstasy to see
ambulance officers.

Mr Paul Dillon, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, said
Sydney was experiencing its most dangerous period because of the many types
of ecstasy available on the streets.

"Normally we don't know what is in ecstasy," he said. "This time we can
safely say there is some particularly dangerous stuff out there, more so
than ever before."

It included a new Australian-made ecstasy which has caused recent deaths in
Western Australia, high-grade ecstasy imported from Holland, a South-East
Asian variety that contains LSD, and GBH or fantasy, which is often falsely
sold as liquid ecstasy.

"This sends a very clear warning to current and potential users that there
is a lot of weird stuff going around and if they are considering using it
they should be so incredibly careful," Mr Dillon said.