ERRI Drug Warning - Orange/Cherry/Lemon fX Drop/Rush/Bomb

From ENN Intelligence Report 01/02/97 - Vol. 3, No.002

FDA Issues Drug Alert
By Steve Macko, ENN Editor

LOS ANGELES (ENN) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Thursday against drinking a mix of synthetic drugs that apparently sickened about 50 people at a New Year's Eve concert. The FDA is warning people not to consume colored liquid products called: "Orange fX Rush," "Lemon fX Drop," and "Cherry fX Bomb." These liquids can cause dizziness, nausea and breathing problems. At least forty people were sickened and four people were hospitalized in critical condition after ingesting this mixture at a concert in California.

EmergencyNet NEWS Emergency Service Report - Wednesday, January 2, 1997 Vol. 1 - 002

L.A. NEW YEAR'S DANCE PARTY CAUSES LAPD MOBILIZATION...
By Jim Fay, ENN Assoc. Editor

LOS ANGELES (ENN) A dance party attended by thousands of youths to celebrate the New Year, was abruptly cancelled when about fifty of the party goers became seriously ill from an unidentified liquid that was distributed. The liquid was described as an "orange colored" substance that was given out on the dance floor to the predominately young crowd.

The organizers of the party described it as an "herbal mixture," not a drug. However, of the fifty who became sick, at least thirty of them were hospitalized for dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing, necessitating a large response of EMS equipment. Some of the victims were saved at the scene by being resuscitated by paramedics that responded. The LAPD was mobilized for riot conditions, when the party was declared over by the organizers, on orders of the LAFD.

About 10,000 youths were in the streets around the Olympic Auditorium. Police were forced to fire "beanbag"-type ammunition at the rioters, when rocks and bottles were being thrown, hitting several helmeted officers. The crowd attempted to turn over cars and at least one bus. There were four arrests of those in the disorderly crowd, and another six arrested on drug charges.

The liquid, called "Herbal Ecstasy," was distributed at the dance by what one partier called "well-dressed men," who "no one expected a scam from." It came in vials, and was yellow-orange in color. Doctors who treated the youths stated that the symptoms that resembled that of designer drugs called "GHB," "FX," and "Ecstasy."

Five Dead in United Kingdom; "Ecstasy" Blamed
Copyright - (C) London Times

A boy, 16, died on New Year's Day, ten hours after collapsing at an all-night rave at the David Lloyd sports centre at Heston, west London. A post-mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death, but toxicology tests are expected to show that he died from taking Ecstasy.

"I could not wish for a better son. He was likeable, comical, a cheeky little monkey. He would not listen to me if he thought he knew best. He was a wonderful son," his father said. His mother clutched her husband's hand as she overcame her choking grief to warn others: "Do not take it. It is lethal. I have lost my youngest son. Please, for my Robert, don't let it happen again."

The teenager, a trainee computer engineer, went to the L25-a-head rave, which was run for the third year by Interspace Promotions, with his brother Matthew, 19, and a teenage friend. He died in Ealing Hospital, west London, where he was taken after being treated by paramedics when he collapsed at the sports centre. He was one of four teenage boys
and a 24-year-old woman believed to have died as a result of taking Ecstasy over the holiday.

Detective Inspector Sue Hill, who is leading the hunt for the supplier of the drug, reiterated the parents' warning. "There is only one thing that youngsters should be aware of when you take an Ecstasy tablet: you are playing Russian roulette, and one Ecstasy tablet can kill you." Police had established that the dead boy had taken the tablet with him to the rave. "His brother is very traumatised. He is feeling very guilty that his baby brother is dead," she said.

The rave was well run. The organisers had employed 36 guards to police the partygoers and make sure that drugs were not taken in or sold at the sports centre. "Everthing was done to prevent this, but it is very difficult to search 2,000 people," Detective Inspector Hill said. Mr Hitchens spoke with pride about how his son had left school last year with good
examination results and set about finding a job. He would return to the family home in Upminster, Essex, each evening talking excitedly about the job he loved and what he had done that day.

"All parents, look at your children, ask them questions, don't take no for an answer. They will tell you what they want to tell you, but be strong and perhaps we can avoid another tragedy like this." Something must be done to prevent this, but it is very difficult to stop."

(Editor's note: This excerpt of a London Times article refers to the drug MDMA and probably is not the same mixture as the incident in California. But, it had the name and proved fatal...just the same. Click here to see ENN's previous report on Ecstasy)

Conclusion
By: C. L. Staten, ERRI Senior Consultant and EMT-P (ret)

The primary problem with these drugs is that often the person taking them does not know what they contain, nor how it will interact with other (prescription or illicit) drugs they may have taken. Further, the ad-hoc mixtures may also aggravate pre-existing medical conditions. Additionally, any capsules or liquid being given away free may be adulterated by unsanitary or toxic substances. Taking any kind of unknown drug, being passed around at a concert, is both dangerous and foolish. As the saying goes...just say no.

(C) EmergencyNet News Service, 1996 (With excerpts from the London Times as indicated)

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