NEW DESIGNER DRUG WORRY FOR CHCH

Christchurch Hospital's emergency staff have treated the city's first
overdose victims of the potentially fatal designer drug Fantasy.

The overdose admissions reinforce fears that the drug, new to
Christchurch, is circulating in the nightclub scene. Nationally,
police are concerned about the drug's emergence, but say it is not
illegal.

Emergency department doctor Paul Gee said staff had treated one
definite and one possible exposure to Fantasy, also known as liquid
ecstasy, or GBH, grievous bodily harm.

Both the overdose victims were aged between 20 and 30. The first
victim was an "extremely" intoxicated man admitted earlier this month.
He believed his drink was spiked by a substance he had been offered
earlier in the evening.

A young woman was admitted last week to hospital in a comatose
condition after taking Fantasy.

"We do not wish to cause panic, but we are worried that with the new
year celebration coming up, there might be an increase in the drug's
use in the city. We would advise against it," Dr Gee said.

The drug had a narrow safety margin and could have serious side
effects.

Fantasy is a clear, colourless liquid. Doses as small as a teaspoon
could prove toxic. It was first used in the United States as a
surgical anaesthetic, but was not now because of the high incidence of
vomiting and seizures. Dr Gee said that in small doses it induced
relaxation and euphoria. "It is very easy to go overboard and move
into a state of agitation and anger before hallucinations, seizures,
and coma," he said.

There was no specific antidote for the drug, which had been linked to
deaths overseas, but not in Australasia to date. Fantasy was one of
the substances found in Hollywood star River Phoenix's body the night
he died.

Auckland police say Fantasy has emerged as the drug of choice among
Auckland's club and dance-party set, as word spreads that it is not
illegal.

Police are trying to outlaw the drug that has been linked to date
rapes because it increases sex drives while reducing social
inhibitions.

The drug has been found at several Auckland and Wellington nightclubs.
Last month six Fantasy users were admitted to Auckland Hospital in a
critical condition.

Christchurch police's drug squad said it had no reports about misuse
of the drug locally.