Emerging drug, MDPV banned in WA

• Effects include acute cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity
• MDPV to be illegal from midnight Friday February 10, 2012

The potentially fatal psychoactive drug, MDPV will be banned in Western Australia from midnight on Friday.

With effects including anxiety, paranoia, acute cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity, MDPV (3,4 methylenedioxypyrovalerone), will become an illicit substance when it is added to Schedule 9 (Prohibited Substances) of the Poisons Act 1964 (WA).

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said anyone caught with it could be charged for possession, selling, supplying or intent to sell or supply.

"MDPV will become illegal in WA from 12:01am Saturday February 11 and people have until then to safely dispose of this substance or any product containing this substance," Mrs Morton said.

"With a high risk of drug-related abuse, tolerance and dependence, drugs like these can harm people's health and mental health and that is why the State Government is serious about reducing the harm these dangerous drugs can cause."

The Minister said MDPV had been a controlled substance in Australia since 2010 and from May 1, 2012 it will be banned Australia-wide by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

"This is a positive step and I have always said a national response to the issue of emerging drugs is the most effective approach," she said.

"But we can't wait until then and we are taking action in WA now, to hopefully avoid the harm that some people in the Eastern States have already suffered because of this dangerous drug."

In the past 12 months, 25 samples had been received at the ChemCentre laboratory and in January this year, WA Police warned users that MDPV had been linked to an increase in hospitalisations and overdoses in the Eastern States, and there were concerns a similar trend could develop in Western Australia.

      Fact File

• MDPV linked to an increase in drug induced casualties in Eastern States' hospitals
• One man, aged 40, was believed to have died from an overdose in December 2011 in South Australia and a fatal overdose has been reported in Victoria
• MDPV is an alkaloid drug of the phenethylamine class that is structurally related to cathinone or MDMA (often used as an ingredient in ecstasy)
• MDPV has already been banned in the UK, Israel and South Australia. It is a controlled substance in Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Czech Republic

Minister's office  - 6552 6900

Video: Announcement