Fantasy alert for clubbers

Four people who overdosed on liquid fantasy at a Wellington nightclub may not be the only users in danger.

Wellington police want to hear from everyone who attended a dance party at the Phoenix Bar where the two men and two women collapsed early yesterday. They were taken to hospital and placed on ventilators.

Police said they feared others who might have overdosed went home without seeking medical treatment.

"The concern of doctors was that those who did go home could go to sleep, lose consciousness and stop breathing," said Detective Sergeant Mark Chenery.

Charges were unlikely because "we haven't got any evidence to charge anyone with".

Liquid fantasy could be taken by itself or mixed in a drink. It acted like an anaesthetic on users.

Police were not focusing on suggestions drinks could have been spiked, Mr Chenery said. They preferred to focus on suppliers rather than those who took the drug.

The four people, all aged either 20 or 21, were admitted to Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit after taking the Class B drug, also know as Rinse, GBH or GHB (after its chemical name gammahydroxybutyric acid). Three collapsed about 4am and another at 6am.

Hospital staff discharged one and the other three went home later.

A consultant at the hospital's emergency department said the drug caused a deep level of unconsciousness which led to victims being unable to protect their airways.

Mr Chenery said the bar owners had co-operated with police, who were satisfied they were not connected with the incident.

Phoenix management said it had a "zero tolerance" policy toward the use of illegal substances at the venue.

Mr Chenery said one way to identify partygoers was that many had the word "twisted" stamped on their hand or wrist in red ink.

- NZPA