Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Timaru Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 Timaru Herald
Contact:  PO Box 46 Timaru New Zealand
Fax: 64 3 688 1042

ONE4B DRUGS SEIZED BY HEALTH MINISTRY IN TIMARU RAIDS

A Timaru property, the backdrop for an Internet-order "legal high" 
operation, was raided by the Ministry of Health and police on Tuesday 
afternoon.

Alphaware NZ, "suppliers of legal highs", had bottles of Puritech (GHB-OH) 
head cleaning solution and sachets of One4b taken by ministry staff and police.

A company spokesman told One News on Tuesday night that he supplied the 
product to several distributers, including Auckland-based Outerspace, which 
has been distributing the legal party drug One4b, responsible for four 
hospital admissions in the last week.

Ministry communications manager Peter Abernethy confirmed on Tuesday night 
that ministry staff were at the Timaru premises, and action taken was part 
of the investigation into One4b. He would not comment further.

Puritech and One4b contain 1,4 butanediol, an industrial solvent. Puritech 
is marketed as a record, CD and head cleaner and carries a warning to keep 
it out of the reach of children.

One4b is a legal version of the banned drug Fantasy, also known as GHB, or 
liquid ecstasy. It is sold in New Zealand, via distributors and through the 
Internet.

Mark and Kate Barlow, who run Outerspace, say One4b is safe and beneficial, 
if taken correctly.

Mrs Barlow said the company obtained its product from a Timaru supplier in 
litre bottles and re-packaged it in Auckland.

Alphaware NZ sells Puritech in litre bottles for $165 (including postage) 
and 300ml bottles for $65.

A double sachet (10 and 5mls) of One4b had been sold for $20.

The ministry stopped the distribution of One4b on Monday, and warned the 
public not to take the drug.

Police and the Medical Association want it banned.

Director General of Health Karen Poutasi said One4b may have breached the 
Food Act and possibly the Medicines Act. If it had, its distributors were 
likely to be prosecuted.

The Health Ministry investigation would look at whether the drug could be 
legally sold as a dietary supplement.

The latest victim of an apparent overdose of One4b was released from 
Auckland Hospital early on Tuesday.

The man, 20, was flown to hospital on Monday night from Piha Beach, 
northwest of Auckland, in a coma after taking the drug.

A spokesman for the hospital said he had been kept in hospital for about 
six hours and discharged just after 1am.

He was the fourth person in as many days to be hospitalised after taking 
the drug, being marketed as a dietary supplement.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens