Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jun 2000
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  +61 8 94823830
Website: http://thewest.com.au/redirect.shtml
Author: Nick Miller
Bookmark: additional articles on Ecstasy may be found at 
http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm and articles on raves at 
http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm

DRUG USERS TEST KIT

PERTH's illegal drug users are snapping up a do-it-yourself kit that can 
tell "good" ecstasy from the cocktails of chemicals often sold to 
unsuspecting users.

But police say the kits are dangerous and could give drug users a false 
sense of security.

The "E-Z Test" kit is marketed as a potential life-saver. The kit - a small 
amount of chemical reagent and a colour chart - sells for between $15 and $50.

Promotional material encourages users to "protect (themselves) against the 
polluted XTC (ecstasy) market".

One of the kit's creators, Tony Puglio, says it can save lives by giving 
users a better indication of what they are taking.

"All drugs carry risks and we assume people who use the kit will already be 
taking those drugs," he has told the BBC.

But Acting Det-Supt Fred Gere, of the organised crime division, said any 
potential to save lives was limited.

"If it was going to save lives then health and law enforcement authorities 
would have looked at it years ago," Supt Gere said. "This is just someone 
making money out of something used for illegal purposes."

Police could use possession of a kit as proof of intent in a criminal 
charge, he said.

Police Minister Kevin Prince said the kit promoted illegal drug use. "I 
would not wish death on anybody but the best way to prevent that is do not 
take the stuff," he said.

WA Chemistry Centre chief scientist Colin Priddis tested the kit for The 
West Australian .

It successfully distinguished ecstasy from most other substances, Mr 
Priddis said.

For instance it would give a different result if a pill was the toxic 
chemical PMA, sometimes passed off as ecstasy and blamed for at least three 
deaths in Perth since October.

The test kit also would distinguish ecstasy tablets from amphetamines 
(speed), caffeine, aspirin and vitamins.

However the reagent in the kit was not fresh and therefore less reliable, 
Mr Priddis said. Also, it would not detect if an ecstasy tablet also 
contained other chemicals such as the anaesthetic ketamine.

The kits are sold at several Perth shops, including a music store and a 
clothing store. At one outlet, they have been selling out faster than they 
could be re-ordered.

Tamara Speed, of the WA Substance Users Association, said she was in favour 
of drug testing kits, but would not condone E-Z Test until it was proved to 
be reliable and came with drug education material.
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MAP posted-by: Thunder