Ecstasy, drain cleaners that look like candy and bath salts resembling instant soup among causes of poisoning last year
Annual report on poisoning cases in Hong Kong warns of dangers of party drug and common household products that look like food and do not have packaging instructions in Chinese
Ecstasy pills available today are up to six times more potent than what was on offer 10 years ago, and even popping one pill can “kill or lead to permanent disability”, a toxicologist warned on Thursday, as the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre released its annual report.
Dr Chan Chi-keung said Ecstasy tablets on the market might contain up to 300 milligrams of the synthetic drug MDMA, compared to between 50 and 80 milligrams in the 2000s.
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Chan referred to the drug as he described instances of poisoning cases last year. The centre recorded 3,956 cases, slightly down from 4,126 the year before.
But the number of deaths went up, with 39 people between the age of 15 and 92 losing their lives compared to 36 the year before. Of the deaths last year, 21 were from suicide.
One of those who died was a youngster who attended a music festival last year and was rushed to hospital with three others, all having convulsions and high fever. Traces of MDMA were found in their blood. The three youth were admitted to intensive care but were later discharged.
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Acknowledging that the drug tended to be used at music festivals, Chan said it was especially dangerous when such events were held outdoors in the summer.