Ten in hospital after 2C-B rave
A group of revellers were rushed to hospital after taking a psychedelic drug rarely seen before by Nottingham's emergency services. The dealer who supplied them is awaiting sentence and the city's drug services are relaying the lessons learnt. REBECCA SHERDLEY and
MICHAEL GREENWELL report
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Andrew Brewer, who supplied the drug
WHEN 10 people were rushed to hospital in the early hours of November 16 last year, medics found themselves dealing with something new.
They are trained to deal with overdoses and side-effects from a variety of drugs, but the symptoms exhibited by this group of people were different and alarming.
They were suffering vivid hallucinations, extreme anxiety and some of their heart rates were at worryingly high levels.
Some of the group – including six students from the University of Nottingham – said they had taken 2C-B, a drug "rarely seen" in the city.
It has been described as a cross between ecstasy and LSD, which propels users into an energetic state mixed with hallucinations and disorientation.
It is often dealt in capsules containing a dose of the drug, but the 10 people, who would eventually be hospitalised, may have taken 2C-B in an unmeasured, powder form.
Inspector Nigel English, of Notts Police drugs directorate, said: "2C-B is a synthetic drug, and one that we have rarely come across in the last few years.
"It could be that those who took it were unfamiliar with the drug and unaware of its potential side-effects or safe dosage levels.
"It may be that they mistook it for another more common drug, like ecstasy or amphetamine, and assumed it could be taken in a similar quantity."
The night had started at a house before moving to a Lenton venue for a club night called Firefly.
The Marcus Garvey Centre, or The Ballroom, is a venue popular with University of Nottingham students and dance music fans throughout the city.
But before long, staff at the venue had alerted police and emergency services because of the group's panicked and unusual behaviour.
Two of the 10 who were rushed to hospital were transferred to the high dependency unit of Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre.
Their condition was closely monitored over the next 48 hours.
Drug-dealer Andrew Brewer, 24, of Ellesmere Road, West Bridgford, was among the 10.
He had also supplied ketamine to the group, a dangerous tranquilliser more commonly used among recreational drug users and more well known to hospital staff.
Emergency services, Notts Police, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership worked together to ensure that more people were not endangered.
There were fears that a batch of 2C-B was circulating in the city.
Steve Youdell, Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership, said: "To the best of our knowledge the use of the drug 2C-B in Nottingham is very rare.
"The incident in November is the first if its kind that has been brought to our attention.
"Following the information that was passed on to us by Notts Police we issued an alert to all the agencies in the city that are in contact, or potentially in contact with drug users, which is a standard procedure.
"This alert contained the facts as we understood them and asked services to offer harm reduction advice as appropriate in the unlikely event that any of their clients come across this drug."
Drug education charities which advise and support people who misuse drugs, particularly ones who work with clubbers, were urged to be vigilant.
Manager Neil Brooks, of city-based charity Chill Out Sound Support, said: "Ketamine, ecstasy, MDMA and cocaine are the drugs we commonly encounter and cause the most problems.
"We were alerted at the time of this but have not encountered 2C-B since."
Andrew Brewer is due to be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court, on October 27, for 11 counts of supplying drugs.
The six University of Nottingham students have since graduated.
None of the group except Brewer were charged with drugs offences.
A University of Nottingham spokesman said: "We have liaised closely with Notts Police, both during the incident and since, and have co-operated fully with their investigation.
"The supplier of the drug, Andrew Brewer, is not and has never been a student of the University of Nottingham.
"Six of the other 10 individuals involved are former students of the university who graduated in summer 2009.
"While we do not discuss individual discipline cases, the university does not condone the supply or possession of any drugs.
We have very firm policies to deal with such offences, including sanctions such as fines, suspension and exclusion.
"Police and/or court action is also taken into consideration and in this case the university is satisfied that these six students were dealt with appropriately by Notts Police without court proceedings being initiated.
"Appropriate advice and support on the misuse of drugs is provided for by the University Student Services in conjunction with the Students' Union.
"This work is further supported by the work of our off campus manager for student affairs who regularly advises our off-campus student community."
Melanie Renwick, of the University of Nottingham Students' Union, said: "We do not encounter any students who come to the Students' Union looking for support or advise if they have a drug problem.
"Our Student Advice and Representation Centre would be the first port of call if they did and they would be advised according to their particular circumstances."
Further information on 2-CB is available on the FRANK website, www.talktofrank.com.
michael.greenwell@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
11 Comments
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by Anon, Nottingham
Monday, October 19 2009, 4:10PM
“Hmmmm, are there any articles blaming bars and their staff for serving alcohol, which causes a massive amount of damage to people's health on a regular basis? I think not.
This guy provided a supply where there was a demand and if drugs weren't such a swear word they could be supplied and controlled sensibly. If not him, they would have been randomly approaching strangers who could have been giving them anything at any cost (with the money probably going to a fund more criminal activity) I bet these youngsters were terrified when they went through what they did, mostly because people with no experience in youth or drug cultures are quick to point the finger and put the world to rights with their opinions based on nothing. Excellent. People like altering their mind state and young people will experiment, it's not unheard of. Why aren't people trying to find the route of these problems instead? That's too much hard work; let's wait for something awful to happen then simply frown and shake our heads with dissapointment.”
by Margaret, Nottingham
Monday, October 19 2009, 2:43PM
“Mr Brewer, it's probably not in your best interests to try & state your case on the Evening Post forum - these retarded pikeys live vicariously by trolling full time on here, believe it or not (Sad, eh?). It's definitely not worth involving yourself in an online slanging match with a bunch of bored single mothers & illiterate dole scroungers, especially when most of them are too gutless to sign in under their own names.”
by Anon, Nottingham
Monday, October 19 2009, 10:50AM
“I don't see what all the fuss is about. This sort of thing goes on every weekend. It's only that the services were alerted that it came to light, most kids get chucked out by bouncers then have to go home and sweat it out on their own until they start to come down.
Don't hate the guy who supplied it to them. Much rather him than some stranger in the club who's probably got his fingers in all kinds of other criminal pies, pushing god knows what for a very high price.
Besides, I don't see anyone charging up to the bar tenders at the end of the night and giving them abuse because of all the people in much worse states on a much more regular basis through the abuse of alchohol.
If drugs weren't such a swear word in society, maybe these kids would be more exposed to them and therefore more aware of what they were taking and the effects. They might have also felt more comfortable in their environment knowing that there would be help available to them rather than freaking out in their already paraniod state.
However, my comments won't make a difference, I'm sure people who have absolutely no expreience with young people or the drugs scene will be forming their opinions and putting the world to rights as we speak, good for them.”
by A, notts
Sunday, October 18 2009, 10:30PM
“Erm? There seems to be some confusion here. I have never for one minute pretended this was anyones fault other than my own. I made full admissions to the police at the first opportunity, because believe it or not all i gave a damn about at that moment was the welfare of my freinds. And yes, i recognise the hypocrisy of giving people i care about drugs, but i didn't exactly shove it down their necks. In fact it is this co-operation with the police that has lead to me being so far up a certain creek.
I made a terrible mistake and what happened that night was truly dreadful, i just want to put the whole sickening thing behind me - hence my frustration at being branded a 'peddler' on front page news.
I'm sorry 'anon' if i have offended you, but i can assure you i have not tried to blame anyone other than myself for this - unless you were the person who sold me the stuff and in which case you are hardly 'innocent'.
We were stupid and that stupidity has had an impact on alot of peoples lives other than our own and for that i am deeply sorry. I was a fool and because of it 9 of my closest friends ended up in intensive care, not to mention my reputation in tatters and having everybody i know read about it in the paper.. though if you are still unsatisfied then you can sleep tight knowing that these will not by any means be the end of my punishments. cheers.”
by King Biffo, Nottingham
Sunday, October 18 2009, 8:11PM
“Thanks for that anon.
By his own admission, Brewer is a drug-dealer, and presumably therefore, a gimp.
It's nice to hear what's probably the truth, rather than some drug dealer rambling on about how it wasn't his fault, because he didn't even know what he was dealing to his customers! Irony much?”
by anon, notts
Sunday, October 18 2009, 5:53PM
“Are you serious brewer, you dealt drugs to people and two of them nearly died. Your a disgrace as well for trying to blame someone else as well, yeah that's right. Not many people know that. Not only did you nearly kill 2 people, you tried to blame someone else and ruin some other innocent persons life. You should be ashamed and locked up for years. How dare you accuse the post of messing with your life you ignorant half wit.”
by Steve, Notts
Sunday, October 18 2009, 12:36AM
“This lad should be given a chance which I think he will be. It¿s an adolescent mistake he obviously had a fascination with drugs and he is unlikely to get involved in production again. He would not have intended to harm anyone and should be allowed to put this behind him.”
by j, leic
Saturday, October 17 2009, 1:16PM
“Andrew, you really do have my sympathy mate.
To all the judgemental idiots out there with sons and daughters at Uni; wow you really don't get it do you.
I worked at a University in the Midlands and was a Hall Warden. I have never EVER seen so many people doing so many drugs before or since. Even the freshers who said "I'll never do that" were off their nuts on coke, E, speed, Ketamine, etc, by Christmas in the first year. And someone always gets the drugs for the rest of the group; that (in the eyes of the law) makes them a dealer too.
And contrary to beliefe, you wont be able to tell if little Tabither or Johnny is taking drugs, they wont come home looking like a smack head, though they probably will be much happier than when they lived at home..........!”
by Andrew Brewer, Nottm
Saturday, October 17 2009, 11:58AM
“Thanks Evening Post for making my life even more exciting. Wow, in the paper AND going to court, what a lucky boy I am.. AND having my life completely ruined too. Awesome.
If you'd actually investigated the circumstances better you would know that i'm by no means a 'drug dealer'.
Also, the drug was probably 2C-E... about fifity times stronger than what we anticipated which is why it went so wrong. But little details eh?! All that matters now is putting a menace like me behind bars.”
by stu, nottingham
Saturday, October 17 2009, 10:21AM
“what is going on in the world, They should cheek how much they are taking so they dont just ruin things for every one else”