Concerns over illicit drug Fantasy

Police are issuing a warning to the community following an increase in recent incidents involving the illicit drug Fantasy.

Superintendent John Pointing of the State Crime Operations Command State Drug and Property Crime Group said the dangers of taking illicit drugs are very real and could have significant consequences.

“It is frightening to see young people taking illicit drugs including Fantasy. We are constantly finding drugs that have been cooked up in people’s backyards, garages and even in toilets.

“Another important point is that when taking any dangerous drug and especially if you are mixing them with alcohol or prescription drugs, you are taking a potentially lethal cocktail,” Detective Superintendent Pointing said.

Fantasy (Gamma hydroxybutyrate, also known as GHB) is a liquid substance and a depressant drug. Often sold in small vials, the illicit drug can cause the activity of the brain and central nervous system to slow down. Improperly made GHB or large doses can cause overdose.

“Buying illicit drugs is not like buying something from the pharmacy or supermarket. You don’t have someone mixing the exact ingredients and a list of ingredients printed on a label. In most of the cases we see the seller has no idea where the product has come from and no idea of its toxicity or strength,” Detective Superintendent Pointing said.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day. Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

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Fantasy : what are the effects?

The effects of GHB appear to vary greatly according to the amount used — a small increase in amount can result in a dramatic increase in effect. One of the most dangerous aspects of using GHB is the small difference between an amount that produces the desired effect and the amount that results in overdose. A further risk is that there is often no way to be sure that the drug is manufactured correctly. Improperly made GHB may result in an extremely toxic mixture of GHB and the chemical sodium hydroxide.

Immediate effectsGenerally, the effects of GHB are experienced within 15 minutes of use, and last for approximately 3 hours. Effects of a low to moderate dose may include:

feelings of euphoria;
increased libido;
lowered inhibitions;
memory lapses;
drowsiness;
sleep;
dizziness and headache;
tremor;
decreased body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate;
nausea;
diarrhoea; and
urinary incontinence.

OverdoseUsing GHB carries a high risk of overdose, due to the small difference between the amount required to produce a ‘high’ and that which causes overdose. Not knowing the strength of GHB increases the risk of overdose.

High doses of GHB can result in:

dizziness;
vomiting;
tremors;
tunnel vision;
loss of coordination (ataxia);
confusion, irritation and agitation;
hallucinations;
blackouts and memory lapses;
seizures;
coma;
respiratory arrest (stop breathing) and death.

Signs of overdose

Person appears to be asleep but cannot be woken.
Person is incoherent, sweating profusely, vomiting and has irregular or shallow breathing.
Person is not able to stand and/or has involuntary muscle contractions.
Long-term effectsLittle research is known about the long-term effects of GHB but it is possible to become physically and psychologically dependent on it.
Tolerance and dependenceThere is evidence that GHB is highly addictive. People who use GHB regularly can develop a tolerance and dependence very quickly. Dependence on GHB can be psychological, physical or both.

People who are psychologically dependent on GHB find that using the drug becomes far more important than other activities in their life. They crave the drug and will find it very difficult to stop using it.

Physical dependence occurs when a person's body adapts to GHB and gets used to functioning with the GHB present. People who are physically dependent on GHB usually develop tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more and more GHB to get the same effect.

WithdrawalIf a physically dependent person stops taking GHB, they may experience withdrawal symptoms because their body has to readjust to functioning without GHB.

Withdrawal symptoms usually start about 12 hours after the last dose and can continue for about 15 days.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced include:

confusion, agitation, anxiety, panic, feelings of doom;
paranoia;
insomnia;
tremor;
muscle cramps;
perspiration;
delirium;
hallucinations; and
tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

Sudden withdrawal from high doses may also result in bowel and bladder incontinence and blackouts, and may require medical assistance.

Treatment optionsIn Australia, there are a number of drug treatment options. Some aim solely for a person to achieve a drug-free lifestyle, while others recognise abstinence as one option in an overall aim of reducing harm and risks related to a person's drug use. Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person's circumstances, and usually involves a combination of methods. Some of the different options include counselling, group therapy, medication (pharmacotherapy) and supervised/home withdrawal.