Use of the notorious party drug GHB is feared to be increasing in Melbourne, with a young woman fighting for her life and five other people hospitalised after suspected overdoses in Melbourne's clubbing district.
Two women and four men aged in their late teens and early 20s were taken to hospital in the early hours of Sunday from the club precinct of King Street and Little Bourke Street.
One of the women is fighting for her life at St Vincent's Hospital.
Three of the other party-goers were transported to hospital in a serious condition, including a teenage boy, while the remaining two are reportedly in a stable condition.
It is believed at least some of the overdoses occurred outside King Street nightclub Inflation.
Ambulance Victoria executive director of emergency operations Mick Stephenson says GHB became prevalent in Melbourne about a decade ago and is on the rise again.
He says the drug, taken for its euphoric effects, suppressed users' consciousness and put them at risk of choking while they "thrashed around".
He told reporters on Sunday the drug was "wildly unpredictable".
Victoria Police acting deputy commission Rick Nugent said users sometimes took double-doses of a precursor that mimicked the effect of GHB, believing the first dose hadn't worked when in fact it simply took longer to take effect.
He also said the risk of overdose increased when users mixed GHB with other drugs or alcohol.
Acting deputy commission Nugent said police arrested a 22-year-old Hawthorn man on King Street about 3.30am on Sunday.
He said although the man was allegedly in possession of GHB and other drugs, it is not believed he was connected to the overdoses.
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