Rogue batch of party pills force thirteen into hospital

TEENAGERS at a party in the Highlands were among 13 people admitted to hospital after taking what they believed to be valium tablets.

TEENAGERS at a party in the Highlands were among 13 people admitted to hospital after taking what they believed to be valium tablets.

welve people, mostly men, were admitted to Belford Hospital, in Fort William, yesterday morning, after suffering an “extreme reaction” to the tablets.

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Another person was admitted to hospital at around 5pm yesterday, suffering from similar symptoms.

Northern Constabulary and NHS Highland are now warning anyone who has obtained or been offered tablets, which were not prescribed to them by a doctor, not to take them.

A police spokeswoman said: “All of the people involved in the drugs incident were in their late teens or early 20s, and the majority of them were at the same party.

“However, we cannot say for certain if they are all linked to the same event.”

Symptoms of taking the tablets may include unconsciousness and feelings of nausea and dizziness, experts have said.

Last night, a spokeswoman for Belford Hospital said most of the people left after a check-up.

A “small number” were kept in for observation, but most of them were due to be discharged last night.

Police and medical staff say anyone who has swallowed the tablets, which may be brown or blue, with letters on one side, should seek urgent medical treatment.

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Rob Henderson, public health consultant, said: “Taking illicit drugs is extremely hazardous.

“We would urge drug users, if they are unable to abstain from drugs, to follow harm reduction advice to reduce the risk.”

He said that precautions include never taking drugs in combination, and looking out for signs of friends becoming unwell.

He added: “I would advise anyone who has concerns about drugs to contact the relevant organisations for advice and support.”

Barry Haslam, a former prescription drug addict who is now the chairman of Oldham Tranx, a support group for involuntary tranquilliser addicts, said that experimenting with these types of drugs can only lead to trouble.

He said: “Valium is highly addictive – I have had addicts who say coming off heroin and crack cocaine is easier that coming off valium.

“For those people taking these drugs for a kick, they are storing up a whole load of trouble for themselves.”

Anyone who has tablets they are concerned about should take them to Fort William police station or Belford Hospital.

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Meanwhile, police are also investigating the death of a 41-year-old man, who was found in a flat in Fort William in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A spokeswoman said: “There is no information to link the two incidents at the moment.

“A 41-year-old man was found in a flat in Fort William, and a post mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death.”