Kids left ‘foaming at the mouth’ during synthetic cannabis scare in Carnarvon

A top health official in Carnarvon fears things are “getting out of hand” in the coastal town after 10 youths — including an 11-year-old — were taken to hospital after police found them unconscious or semi-conscious after smoking synthetic cannabis. Carnarvon police made the shocking discovery at a home in the Carnarvon suburb of Brockman on Sunday after receiving a report from a neighbour. Senior Sergeant Jayd Morawski said a number of people in a similar state were then found at five other nearby homes. “They were all at one house, they felt an ill effect, and then some left that address and went back to their varying home addresses,” Sen. Sgt Morawski said. “A number of these people were conveyed to Carnarvon Hospital, with a total of 10 people — ranging in age from 11 to 19 years of age — receiving medical treatment.” A WA Country Health Service spokeswoman said all the youths had since been discharged. Police are still in the process of analysing the substance to work out exactly what it was the youth’s took. Les Cook, chief executive of the Carnarvon Aboriginal Medical Service, said the incident could have ended in a disaster. “It is just getting out of hand up here where they (the kids) seem to do what they want...and go home when they feel like it. They are literally just running amok,” he said. Mr Cook said he was worried what the substance had done to the youths. He said some of them were left foaming at the mouth after taking the drug. “This stuff is banned in Western Australia but it seems pretty easily accessed anywhere,” he said. “We don’t know what the after-effects are. “This was a Sunday night, where kids should be at home waiting to go to school on Monday.” Mr Cook said the parents of the children were in hysterics in the hospital after their children were admitted. “They were wanting to do all sorts of things to the suppliers,” he said. “I told the parents that they need to start looking after their kids and knowing where they are 24-hours- a-day.” Nationals MP Vince Catania, whose electorate takes in Carnarvon, wrote to several State Government ministers highlighting concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area, particularly Brockman. He said many Carnarvon locals were anxious and distressed by recent crime in the region. “Many continue to have grave concerns for the unruly, dangerous and unacceptable behaviour of some community members, including minors, particularly in the Brockman area,” his letter to the government dated February 11 said. “As previously highlighted, it is not only causing damage and destruction of property…but it is placing community members who are being targeted and victimised under high levels of duress and danger.” Professor Steve Allsop, from Curtin University’s National Drug Research Institute, said synthetic cannabis was known to change in potency from batch to batch. “(The) key issue here is we don’t know what’s in it, so it may be some form of synthetic cannabis but might be something else,” he said. Prof-Allsop said there were a wide range of adverse side effects from taking synthetic cannabis, such as dizziness and confusion, and that the risks were very high in young people. “Their developing bodies and brains and their potential exposure to exploitation by others raises particular concerns and risks,” he said.