This warning comes just weeks after 16 people were hospitalised and one an died on the Gold Coast after ingesting a combination of MDMA (ecstasy) and synthetic LSD.
More pure forms of the drug have proven to be a major problem in Europe and North America, and now they're inAustralia the same problems are expected to carry over.
"We're not going to be immune from international trends," said Mr. Leibie. "If you add all these new, toxic, very lethal unknown drugs it can only make the situation worse."
In England, there have been a reported 57 ecstasy related deaths in the past year.
"MDMA is becoming more pure and the problem with that is for people who are quite young and do try it, they might end up taking too much and overdosing," said Dr. Monica Barratt from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
What you should know about ecstasy:
- Ecstasy is a stimulant drug, which means it speeds up messages between the brain and the body
- Ecstasy and MDMA are terms used interchangeably, but ecstasy contains the drug MDMA normally in small proportions mixed with other filler substances like cleaning products
- Other terms for ecstasy are: eckies, E, XTC, pills, pingers, bikkies, flippers, molly
- Effects of ecstasy include: feeling happy, energetic and confident, large pupils, jaw clenching and teeth grinding, heightened senses (sight, hearing and touch), excessive sweating and skin tingles, muscle aches and pains, nausea and reduced appetite, fast heartbeat, dehydration, heat stroke and drinking extreme amounts of water, that can cause death.
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