All nine people hospitalised after a mass drug overdose at an electronic music festival in Melbourne last weekend suffered severe hyperthermia, with three people remaining in a critical condition.
Another woman in her 30s was hospitalised on Friday after a suspected drug overdose at a separate music festival in the Melbourne suburb of Flemington. She remains in a critical condition.
Victorian health authorities believe the overdoses at last weekend’s Hardmission festival were not caused by a single bad batch of the drug MDMA as originally feared and that extreme heat and physical activity exacerbated the drug’s impact.
“We can confirm that everyone hospitalised from Saturday’s incident experienced severe hyperthermia, caused by a combination of MDMA exposure, hot and humid conditions and physical exertion,” a spokesperson for the Victorian health department said.
“Four people were also exposed to other stimulant drugs which are often sold as or mixed into MDMA – these substances increased the toxic effects experienced by these patients.”
Some patrons at the Hardmission festival were also exposed to other drugs including PMMA, synthetic cathinones and methamphetamine.
Earlier in the week, Ambulance Victoria confirmed eight people were placed in comas with breathing tubes in their throats.
The department spokesperson said signs of drug-related hyperthermia include feeling uncomfortably hot, nausea and vomiting, excessive thirst, confusion, agitation, muscle spasms, seizures or losing consciousness.
“All drug use comes with serious risks, but if people do choose to take drugs, it’s important they know that consuming substances like MDMA at a hot, humid music event will increase the risk of life-threatening hyperthermia and should understand the signs and seek medical help immediately,” the spokesperson said.
Two men aged in their 20s and a woman in her late teens remain in a serious condition in hospital after attending the Hardmission festival. Another man in his 20s is still in a serious condition.
The Victorian Ambulance Union’s secretary, Danny Hill, said the patients at the festival were “really sick”.
“You had patients with high temperatures – some over 41C and seizure activity. In order [for patients] to be transported, [paramedics] have to do intervention that is normally left for patients suffering a head injury or a stroke,” Hill said.
He said it was unusual to have a high number of people affected at one event.
The hospitalisations have renewed calls for nationwide pill-testing programs, including from the Greens.
“Every day the Victorian Labor government refuses to listen to expert health advice and back pill testing is another day a young person is at risk of overdose or drug-related death,” acting party leader Aiv Puglielli said.
“Sniffer dogs will not save lives. Tough talk from cops and politicians will not save lives. Pill testing will.”
Greg Barns SC, the criminal justice spokesperson at the Australian Lawyers Alliance, also urged the Victorian government to implement drug testing to help keep young people safe.
“Human lives matter more than failed prohibitionist drug policies,” he said. “Simply exhorting young people to ‘say no to drugs’ does not work and the government needs to listen to health experts on this issue.”
– with Adeshola Ore and AAP
