TEEN DRUGS FROM WEB

Police reveal source of Saint Stephen’s overdose

POLICE have confirmed fears a Russian designer drug that put seven Gold Coast teenagers in hospital after a near-fatal schoolyard overdose was sourced online.

Some of the Year 10 teens from Saint Stephen’s College were in comas and on life support after snorting Phenibut.

Detectives yesterday said the teens had been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

COPS have confirmed fears a designer drug that put Gold Coast teenagers in hospital after a near-fatal schoolyard overdose was sourced online.

A key question for police probing the scary incident that left some of the seven Year 10 teens in comas and on life support was where the relaxant Phenibut had come from.

Fears were raised at the time that the Phenibut respon- sible – which the Saint Stephen’s College teens are understood to have snorted – was easily bought online.

“Police investigations have established the circumstances surrounding a singular online purchase of the drug from an international website and reiterate their warning regarding any purchase of illicit drugs or poisons and the consequences,” a police statement said.

Early on, sources told the Bulletin it was believed to be Phenibut with police later revealing the seven had consumed everything from a “taste” to a “dangerous” significant amount.

During the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort said police were not just interested in pinning down specifics of the incident but what was occurring generally: “... to understand if it was obtained on the worldwide web, or if obtained by alternate means, we need to understand those dynamics and where this generation is moving to obtain drugs like that and the motivation.”

The teens, all 15 except one aged 14, have made a recovery but have since left the school.

Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit detectives were yesterday nearing completion of the investigation and confirmed those involved were dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

Saint Stephen’s headmaster Jamie Dorrington said he was planning an information session for parents and “selecting appropriate presenters”.

“There have not been any other issues, nor do I expect any,” Mr Dorrington said.