United Kingdom, 12 Jan, 2013: Three men have been arrested after a group of students needed hospital treatment for taking an illegal hallucinogenic drug bought on the internet.
One of the students remains in critical condition after he and five others fell ill early on Friday having taken 2CB, a party drug which is similar to ecstasy.
The group, some studying at Newcastle University, were found after police raided a house in Jesmond, a leafy suburb of Newcastle, at around 3am.
Five of the six men – aged between 19 and 22 – have been discharged from the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, but the sixth remains "critical but stable".
Around eight people are believed to have been at the house when officers arrived. Neighbours said they head "an awful lot of noise". Bev Faulder, a teaching assistant, said: "We were woken up by what sounded like them running around the house shouting and carrying on. There was an occasional very big bang, as if one of them had run into a wall."
Another neighbour, Henrietta Pissarro, 19, an architect student, said: "I heard an awful lot of noise in the early hours. I had no idea what was going on."
Two 23-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of supplying the drug and then bailed pending further inquiries. A third man, aged 20, has been arrested and remains in police custody.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Enquiries to establish exactly what happened continue, with officers warning people about the dangers of taking any illegal drugs – especially those bought over the internet."
Newcastle University has circulated a warning about 2CB via an email to students. A spokesman said: "Police are urging university staff to be aware of the risk of the illegal drug 2CB after six people were taken to hospital in Newcastle earlier today.
"Some of them are believed to be students and their relevant course heads are being notified."
2CB can also be sold as a white powder or as small pills, and is said to be particularly dangerous when mixed with other drugs or alcohol.
The Class A substance often comes in purple capsules, is related to ecstasy and is also known as Bromo, Nexus, CB, Performax, Spectrum, Venus, Erox and Cloud Nine.
No comments:
Post a Comment