Sales of DIY kits claiming to test the strength of drugs soar by 110 per cent after four revellers die in suspected overdoses

  • Sales of DIY drug testing kits have soared following spate of drug-related deaths
  • The kits claim to test for certain chemicals as well as determine strength of drug
  • The AMA have raised concerns over the use of such kits, false sense of security
  • There have been five drug-related deaths in less than five months in Australia

By Sophie Tanno For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 18:52 EST, 6 January 2019 | Updated: 18:57 EST, 6 January 2019

Sales of DIY drug testing kits have soared by 110 per cent following a spate of suspected drug-related deaths in Australia. 

The makeshift kits claim to test for certain chemicals and their strength. 

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has raised questions about such kits, worrying they could give drug users a false sense of security. 

Sales of DIY drug testing kits have soared by 110 per cent following a spate of drug-related deaths in Australia

Sales of DIY drug testing kits have soared by 110 per cent following a spate of drug-related deaths in Australia

The makeshift kits claim to test for certain chemicals and their strength 

The makeshift kits claim to test for certain chemicals and their strength 

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has raised questions about such kits, worrying they could give drug users a false sense of security

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has raised questions about such kits, worrying they could give drug users a false sense of security

The sellers of the DIY kits admit they should not be solely relied upon for safety, 7 News reported. 

However, they also argued it is better to use one, than to not test the drugs at all. 

There have been five suspected drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia. 

Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, died after collapsing at Penrith's Defqon. 1  music festival on September 18.  

Callum Brosnan, 19, died after Knockout Games of Destiny dance party at Sydney Olympic Park in early December 2018. 

The sellers of the DIY kits admit they should not be solely relied upon for safety

The sellers of the DIY kits admit they should not be solely relied upon for safety

However, they also argued it is better to use one, than to not test the drugs at all 

However, they also argued it is better to use one, than to not test the drugs at all 

There have been five suspected drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia

There have been five suspected drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia

Mr Brosnan, from Baulkham Hills, was found in a 'distressed state' at a train station near the event, and rushed to hospital just before 1.30am on December 9.

He died a little more than three hours later at Concord Hospital. 

Josh Tam, 22, died from a suspected overdose at the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast before the new year.   

There have been five drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia. 

Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, died after collapsing at Penrith's Defqon. 1  music festival on September 18.  

Callum Brosnan, 19, died after Knockout Games of Destiny dance party at Sydney Olympic Park in early December 2018. 

Another suspected drug overdose claimed the life of Joshua Tam, 22, (pictured) who died from what was believed to be a mix of alcohol and ecstasy tablets taken at the Lost Paradise festival, near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast

Another suspected drug overdose claimed the life of Joshua Tam, 22, (pictured) who died from what was believed to be a mix of alcohol and ecstasy tablets taken at the Lost Paradise festival, near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast

Mr Brosnan, from Baulkham Hills, was found in a 'distressed state' at a train station near the event, and rushed to hospital just before 1.30am on December 9.

He died a little more than three hours later at Concord Hospital, at 4.30am. 

Josh Tam, 22, died from a suspected overdose on at the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast before the new year. 

Five drug-related music festival deaths in less than five months

Joseph Pham, 23, from Edensor Park died at Defqon.1 music festival in Penrith, Sydney's west, in September. 

Mr Pham posted information about police sniffer dogs at the popular music festival just weeks before he attended the event that was to claim his life. 

A 21-year-old woman from Melbourne also died after collapsing at the event.

Callum Brosnan, 19, died after Knockout Games of Destiny dance party at Sydney Olympic Park early December 2018. 

Mr Brosnan, from Baulkham Hills, was found in a 'distressed state' at a train station near the event, and rushed to hospital just before 1.30am on December 9.

He died a little more than three hours later at Concord Hospital. 

Josh Tam, 22, died from a suspected overdose on at the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast before the new year.

Mr Tam, from Toowong in Brisbane, was rushed to Gosford hospital at 8pm on Saturday 29 December 2018. He died soon after he arrived.

A 20-year-old died after he became unwell at the Beyond the Valley festival in Lardner, about 100km east of Melbourne, on Saturday 29 December.

The man from the small down of Mansfield was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital in critical condition but later died.  

 

Advertisement

Sales of DIY kits claiming to test strength drugs soar after four revellers die suspected overdoses

Comments 0

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.