Adelaide dad warns of his horror to find his son has overdosed on a ‘heroin slushie’

A recreational drug described as a heroin slushie has hit the streets of South Australia, prompting a warning from a concerned parent who says his son overdosed on the dangerous cocktail.

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A recreational drug described as a heroin slushie has hit the streets of South Australia, prompting a warning from a concerned parent who says his son overdosed on the dangerous cocktail.

As debate rages around the country about pill testing and Adelaide is set to host a large music festival on Sunday, a South Australian father has told the Sunday Mail his son overdosed on the drug in November and is still recovering at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The recreational drug, that has been blamed for deaths in the United States where the drug is spruiked by certain rappers, is created by mixing a common household prescription medication with soft drink and a particular lolly.

Users have been known to also add crushed up antidepressants.

The father, who does not want to be named to protect the identity of his son, said he was “blown away” to discover his 20-year-old son had taken the drug.

“He is not really a clubbing sort of guy, he was more likely to go to house parties,” the father said.

“It is a lethal weapon that everyone needs to know about.”

The father said the drug, that looks “like a grape drink from Hungry Jacks”, is like a “heroin slushie” because of the downer effect it can have on user.

“It is a downer, not an upper,” he said.

The father sought the help of SA Best MP Frank Pangallo to look into the drug and help spread the word about the illicit drug.

Mr Pangallo, who is against pill testing at festivals for the message it sends to potential drug users, told the Sunday Mail the drug was starting to get traction in SA.

“The drug really disturbs me and police need to be on the look out for it at events because it is not as obvious as pills or cannabis,” he said.

SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Services executive director Michael White said the drug was not common in SA but the use of prescription medications to create recreational drugs was not new.

“As always highly dangerous and unwise,” he said. “Most kids using prescription medication are experimenting and it is generally not indicative of dependence. But it can make them very sick very quick. “It is important that parents maintain good communication with their children.”

SA Health would not say if it had seen an increase in the use of the drug.

A Drug and Alcohol Services SA spokeswoman said mixing any combination of drugs, whether it be prescription, over-the-counter, or illicit drugs and alcohol can be unpredictable and dangerous.

“Always obtain pharmacist advice before using any combination of over the counter and/or prescription medications and ensure that medications are secured in a safe place to prevent misuse,” she said.

SA Police did not respond to questions from the Sunday Mail by deadline.