'Zombie drug' behind mass overdose in party town still not confirmed
Heathcote footballer Riki Stephens, 27, is in critical condition after taking an unknown substance while holidaying in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Australia, last Saturday. He was one of 16 people rushed to hospital from the area on the same night -- after taking what's being called a "zombie drug" by local media.
But police are reportedly downplaying suggestions that the drug "flakka" is sweeping the popular party spot, which around 30,000 high school graduates flock to annually for "schoolies" celebrations -- the Australian equivalent of spring break.
A Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) spokesperson said the mass overdose that left two people (including Stephens) in an induced coma, had effects similar to the infamous drug also known as "Gravel," but that test results are still pending.
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"This is the largest cohort of similar drug overdose incidents I've see in the 24 years I've been working on the Gold Coast," said senior paramedic Stephen Burns, according to Yahoo.
QAS Operations supervisor Paul Young said most of the overdose victims were all experiencing "similarities in the signs and symptoms," including hallucinations, anxiousness, aggression, no sense of danger and sensitivity to noise.
They were "very agitated, doing things they wouldn't normally do, not rational with their decision making at all," he said in audio supplied to Mashable.
One patient called the trip "demonic" after being discharged from hospital, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
"This is certainly extreme behaviour," Gold Coast police district duty officer Senior Sergeant Bruce Pearce told news.com.au. "I'm sure it was a very scary situation for those people.
"We just want to get the message out there that these are dangerous drugs. You don't know what's in them ... so don't take them."
Police are awaiting official toxicology results before formally identifying whether or not the "zombie drug" is actually "flakka."
Young also stated that it will be "business as usual" for ambulance services during the end-of-year "schoolies" period, in terms of planning and staffing.
"We are not putting any plans in place that are any different based on what happened over the weekend," he said.
Mashable has reached out to Gold Coast police for further comment.
Jerico Mandybur is the editor of Mashable Australia. Previously, she worked as a digital editor at SBS, Oyster Mag, MTV and ASOS. Tweet her at @jerico_m.
