Pubdate: Tue, 13 Oct 1998
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Contact:  10
Author: Peter Michael

'DEATH' DRUG BACK ON STREETS

THE lethal designer drug PMA - also known - "Death" - is circulating again
in Adelaide

And it has claimed a seventh South Australian victim.

A 28-year-old man died - in a hotel room at West Beach - after overdosing on
PMA, or paramethoxyamphetamine, the highly toxic hallucinogen sometimes sold
as Ecstasy.

His death was revealed yesterday at an international forensic science
conference in Adelaide.

The State Coroner's office last night confirmed that the man had died, on
August 17. However, the office declined to release his name or confirm if a
coronial inquest would be ordered.

"Death" claimed the lives of six South Australians who believed they were
taking Ecstasy in 1998 and 1997.

Toxicologist Noel Sims, of Adelaide's Forensic Science Centre, yesterday
warned: "The drug known as Death, or PMA, is back on the streets."

"There is some nasty stuff out there, but this drug is one of the most
lethal. It is particularly concerning that we are starting to see more and
more of this stuff coming back on to the local drug scene."

Recent drug seizures had shown the drug was starting to resurface in SA
after an intense anti-PMA campaign by police and the State Coroner last
year.

"There is no way that users can tell the difference between this drug and
Ecstasy; they both come in pill and tablet forms, but PMA is much more
toxic," Mr Sims said.

People who overdose on PMA experience a soaring body temperature, leading to
seizures and a "body meltdown".

The latest victim took an unknown number of tablets.

More than two hours after his death, his body temperature was 39C - nearly
two degrees higher than normal.

Meanwhile, a special study is under way at the pharmacology department at
Adelaide University to understand the way PMA works on the human brain. The
Drugs of Dependence and Abuse Group is examining what triggers the adverse
effects of PMA.

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Checked-by: Don Beck