The astonishing scale of "designer" drug abuse in York has been revealed after a teenager almost died on her 18th birthday.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: PC Clare Woodall shows two similar pills. One is a tablet of the designer drug Ecstasy, the other is a fake. Picture: Paul Baker

On average, one person a DAY is seeking treatment at York District Hospital after suffering ill effects from taking drugs such as Ecstasy.

The statistic was today branded "very worrying and very disturbing" by Dr Ray Marks, medical director of York NHS Trust.

In the most recent serious incident, the Evening Press understands that a girl from the York area fell seriously ill after taking a designer drug - possibly Ecstasy - during her 18th birthday celebrations.

The girl, who is not being identified by the Evening Press, was taken to York District Hospital, where doctors battled to save her life.

It is understood she was unconscious at one stage, and relatives feared the worst, but she fortunately pulled through and made a good recovery - unlike Essex teenager Leah Betts, who died after taking an Ecstasy tablet before an 18th birthday party in late 1995.

Today, police issued a blunt warning to teenagers who take a chance with Ecstasy and other "party" drugs: You are taking a chance with your life.

York police drugs co-ordinator Detective Constable Paul Johnson, said: "You pay your money and you take your chance.

"You just don't know what you are buying. You don't know what is in it. There is no quality control with the majority of drugs.

"Teenagers think they are aware of the dangers, but they're not."

He said York's pioneering new drug arrest referral scheme - financed by money seized from drug barons - was giving drug users the chance to seek and receive advice from experts rather than face prosecution.

In 1996, the Evening Press launched an Ecstasy awareness campaign called Beware!

An Evening Press investigation revealed how easy it was to buy Ecstasy in York. Our reporters bought an E tablet for £12.50 at one nightspot, and were repeatedly told at pubs and clubs that tablets could easily be obtained.

Leah Betts' parents Paul and Janet gave full backing to the project, which involved the distribution of 36,000 leaflets to senior school children in North Yorkshire, explaining the hazards associated with the drug.

Mr Betts said today that he was not surprised by the latest hospital statistics, saying he believed they reflected the national picture. "The Government has been playing down the number of deaths, but nobody talks about the numbers injured."

Dr Marks said the numbers suffering ill effects from designer drugs peaked at York District Hospital on Friday nights, when nightclubs were at their busiest.

While some were sent home after being examined or treated in casualty, others, who had generally taken a cocktail of alcohol and designer drugs, had to be admitted for in-patient treatment.

He revealed that a similar number of people - about one a day - was coming to YDH suffering ill effects after injecting harder drugs. He said staff had described the situation as "horrendous".

Have you ever suffered a bad reaction after taking a "designer" drug? Call Mike Laycock on 01904 653051. Calls will be treated with complete confidence.

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