VICTORIA MACDONALD
AN Albury paramedic who was among those to respond to a quadruple liquid ecstasy overdose at a party in the city said drug users’ honesty could mean the difference between life and death.
Grahame Dann escorted two of four liquid ecstasy overdose patients to Albury hospital on January 13 after they fell violently ill at an Olive Street home.
Cassandra Harper, 18, died three days later in a Melbourne hospital.
Mr Dann said it was the first time he had encountered the drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, on the Border.
“It’s not common here in Albury. It’s very rare to see overdoses of any sort, unless it’s intentional, as with suicides or attempted suicides, and then it’s generally prescription medication,” he said.
Mr Dann said it was “vital” for drug users and their friends to be honest with paramedics.
“It can mean the difference between life and death,” he said.
“But once they realise they’re not in trouble, they’re often more willing to give us the correct information”.
Mr Dann said at the Olive Street party, ambulance officers had been told right away what happened.
“We were lucky in this case — the first guy we picked up, he knew that it was liquid ecstasy, so we knew,” he said.
Three ambulances attended and the four patients were prioritised; Mr Dann’s ambulance took the first person to hospital and returned for the fourth.
He said the other party-goers were mostly in a mood of “shock and disbelief” at the drug’s effect.
“But we’re very grateful that they called the ambulance when they did; otherwise, there may have been more deaths,” he said.
Mr Dann said GHB had a “small therapeutic index”, which meant the difference between having no effect and devastating consequences was marginal.
“There’s not much room for error,” he said.
“That’s why it’s one of the more deadly drugs”.
Mr Dann said he had encountered GHB more frequently when he worked in Sydney.
The Border Mail
