FANTASY FAD A FEARFUL REALITY

Widely available in some nightclubs, say police

THE designer drug Fantasy - first seized by South Australian police less
than a year ago - is now widely available in Adelaide.

The drug has become popular with many of the teenagers and young adults who
frequent some city nightclubs and pubs, police have discovered.

The Advertiser understands dealers offer Fantasy in liquid form for $30 to
$50 a single dose, glass phial, depending on quality.

Users usually pour the drug into bottles of spring water or other drinks.

Police officers working on the city-based Operation Lancet, which targets
street-level crime, are frequently coming across the drug.

"From something that was totally unknown, it has become one of our
problems" said Senior Sergeant Bernie Morgan, the officer in charge of
Hindley St police, where Operation Lancet is based.

"Fantasy has become a bit of a fad," he said.

Uniformed and plain-clothes police regularly patrol areas where Fantasy may
be sold or consumed.

Also known as GHB, GBH or Grievous Bodily Harm, Fantasy is a mixture of an
anaesthetic and other chemicals. It induces a feeling of euphoria, but an
overdose can result in the user falling into a coma.

Fantasy "manufacturing kits" are advertised for sale on the Internet for
about $30.

One site boasts tbe drug kit can be sent in "a plain white box" and "does
not require a signature" on delivery.

As well as club or pub goers, the drug is also used by some body builders
who believe it increases the release of human growth hormones.

Senior Sergeant Morgan warned people who used Fantasy they were taking a
significant risk.

"The trouble with any drug is you have no quality control," he said.

"You've got no idea what you are taking."

Fantasy was first seized by SA police in February when Drug Task Force
detectives raided a West Beach unit.

They discovered more than a litre of the drug and arrested two men.

The seizure came two weeks after five people collapsed after taking the
drug at a city club.

Since then at least six people have been treated at Adelaide hospitals
after overdosing on Fantasy.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski