Pubdate: Thu, 01 Feb 2001
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 News Limited
Contact:  121 King William Street, Adelaide,  South Australia, Australia 5000
Fax: (08) 8206-3669
Website: http://www.advertiser.com.au/

WARNING NOT TO BAN 'PARTY' DRUG

A NEW recreational drug blamed for several people collapsing in New 
Zealand is available in Australia, but researchers warned yesterday 
that to ban the drug would only enhance its popularity.

Paul Dillon, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 
cautioned authorities against banning One4b, saying it would merely 
heighten its popularity.

Mr Dillon said the drug, which could be lethal if mixed with other 
substances, had been available to Australians through the Internet 
for a short time.

He said the drug was being marketed on the Internet as a dietary 
supplement and natural alternative to the banned drug GHB, or Fantasy.

``Basically it has a similar sort of effect and definitely if you 
talk to users, it's a similar sort of drug with similar sorts of 
problems,'' he said.

New Zealand's health authorities stopped the distribution of One4b 
after four young people took the drug and became unconscious.
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