Snapchat drug deals reveal how disturbingly easy it is to buy illicit substances in SA

Teenagers are being targeted on social media by dealers, with an investigation revealing how disturbingly easy it is to buy drugs – and how fast kids are messaged with offers.

For a drug-taking novice like me, it’s shocking how easy it all is.

Literally seconds after adding an account on Snapchat, I’m being asked if I want to buy illicit substances.

“I have shard MD bud ket and dmt available,” the dealer writes.

A google search tells me he’s offering crystal meth, marijuana, ketamine and dimethyltryptamine.m

Clearly, dark alleyways or clandestine meetings in carparks are no longer the sole locations for drug deals.

Now, illegal substances can be purchased with the simple touch of a button, courtesy of social media apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, Discord or Telegram, just to name a few.

A quick search of the term ‘Adelaide drugs’ on Instagram produced a host of dodgy-sounding accounts.

The first one that caught my eye, Adelaide Drugs Delivery, featured a series of posts showcasing a range of different drugs in pill, powder, plant or rock form.

An Instagram Adelaide drugs page.

Looking at the account bio, I noticed contacts for two other apps, Snapchat and Telegram.

I added the Snapchat username and moments later, someone wrote a message to my fake account.

“Hey mate, what are you looking to buy?” he said.

After checking to see if he can deliver to Schoolies at Victor Harbor on Saturday, I ask for his recommendations, and if he has any “party drugs”.

Following his suggestions, I then query how much it will cost for a group of “4 of us boys”.

“I think you can take gram for each person,” he replies.

“I do a gram of meth for $350. Ketamine for $250. MD for 200. Ball (3.5gram) of meth for 900.”

Some basic math shows me the ball of meth might be the best value for money for my imaginary group of friends.

Snapchat screenshots show the discussion with the drug dealer.

Snapchat screenshots show the discussion with the drug dealer.

Ultimately, I shut down the conversation, telling him I need to confer with my “school mates”.

If it’s this easy for me, how simple would it be for technology-savvy school leavers looking to celebrate at Victor Harbor this weekend?

As a parent, it doesn’t bear thinking about – but it really should.

Take for example dimethyltryptamine, or DMT for short. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation describes it as a very strong psychedelic found in a number of animals and plants, and similar to psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

The foundation says psychedelic drugs can affect all the senses, alter a person’s thinking, sense of time and emotions, and can cause someone to hallucinate.

Then there’s ketamine, a central nervous system depressant used by medical practitioners and veterinarians as an anaesthetic.

But it’s one of the new party drugs on the market, easily obtained and used illegally by people to get high.

Sold illegally as a white or off-white powder, it can also be made into pills.

Drug dealers are targeting people on Snapchat and other social media apps. Picture iStock

It acts on different chemicals in the brain to “produce … a detachment from reality”, the foundation says.

Other medical websites suggest the questionable purity of illegal ketamine makes it easier for users to accidentally overdose.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s new Illicit Drug Data Report 2020–21 states the number of detections of anaesthetics – including GHB, GBL and ketamine – at Australian borders has increased 1233 per cent over the past 10 years, to a record 1413 in 2020-21. Of these, the vast majority – 976 – were ketamine.

Earlier this month, Australian Border Force officials warned of an increase in detections of a powerful synthetic opioid called metonitazene.

The drug is more powerful than fentanyl and hundreds of times more potent than morphine.

ABF Acting Commander Ian Kelly said at the time the increase in detections coming into Australia was worrying.

“This is concerning with Schoolies celebrations about to begin in states across the country, if the intention was to import this drug in an attempt to sell to young people,” he said, adding metonitazene was often disguised so the user doesn’t know what they are taking.

The range of drugs and the ease with which they can be accessed by the youth of today is incredibly concerning.

And the harm some of these substances can cause should send a shiver down the spine of everyone, especially parents of young people.

WARNING ON ONLINE DRUGS FOR SCHOOLIES

Fears are growing over the increasing number of synthetic opioids being found in South Australia, as a local expert warns Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor are a “natural magnet” for drug dealers.

A Drug and Alcohol Services SA spokeswoman said they are “concerned” by the recent detection of nitazenes, a large group of strong synthetic opioids that are potentially toxic, even in small doses.

The spokeswoman said the illicit substances, which includes the powerful drug metonitazene, can also slow a person’s breathing, make them drowsy or unconscious.

It comes as Andrew Goldsmith, Flinders University emeritus professor of criminology, said school leavers toasting the end of Year 12 this weekend need to be mindful of people selling illicit substances.

“Schoolies is going to be a natural magnet for drug dealers, the party drugs particularly,” he said.

“There will be drugs and there will be people dealing down there. Many of them will be younger people... maybe buying and selling to their friends. It’s utterly predictable.”

Mr Goldsmith said buying illegal substances on social media had become popular in recent years with the technology-savvy younger generation.

“Young people have an affinity with social media and the internet and they already do a lot of their commerce online,” he said.

“Online markets are attractive to young people because you can check prices online, you can shop around, you don’t have to go out and deal with people face to face in public places where you can be identified. There’s more anonymity.”

A Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) spokeswoman warned school leavers not to be tempted to celebrate by experimenting with illegal substances.

“The consequences can be severe. Illicit drugs can impair judgment, leading to risky behaviours and compromised decision-making,” the spokeswoman said.

Australian Border Force acting chief superintendent Andrew Dawson said they were keeping a close eye on attempts to import these drugs such as metonitazene by those “who have an intent to sell to South Australian students”.

SA Police said they were aware of drug dealing happening online and will be “proactive” in their policing of the 2023 Schoolies event.

“Police want the attendees to have a good time, but we also want them to stay safe and make good choices – namely avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and illegal drug use,” a spokesperson said.

“Drug dealing is of concern to police however it is facilitated – online or on a street corner or in a nightclub.”