Students across Merseyside are being alerted to a drug warning after a 19-year-old woman suffered a suspected drug overdose in Liverpool City Centre in the early hours of Sunday, 27 January.
Merseyside Police have issued the warning and are appealing for witnesses after the woman was taken ill at Hangar 34 Club in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. She is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital where she later died.
It was initially believed the woman had ingested MDMA powder – but this is yet to be confirmed.
A man is also being assessed after possibly taking the same substance, but is described as stable.
An investigation is now ongoing to ensure that nobody else has suffered serious effects of taking these or other drugs. Police are checking with local hospitals, other local forces, and working closely alongside the club and other City Centre premises and partners.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Vaughan said: “We are urging anyone who took any substances at this location, or anyone who suspects someone they know has done, to attend at their nearest hospital for assessment.
“Likewise, if you are still in possession of any of the described drugs from last night, please do not take them under any circumstances but let us know and we will recover them for further enquiries to be made.
“We also want to hear from anyone who was offered any substances at this location, witnessed the young woman falling ill, were offered or bought the drugs described elsewhere. We have launched a full investigation to establish what these drugs were and who supplied them and will act on all information to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
“You may be worried about being in trouble for taking illegal drugs, however our immediate priority is to ensure that nobody else is affected. Ensure that family and friends are safe and well and report any concerns to medical services immediately.”
Anyone with information can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027001, or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you have been affected by this case, there are lots of support services and resources available for students at the University including: the University Counselling Service; the Mental Health Advisory Service; SilverCloud free online self-help modules; Big White Wall, which is an online mental health and wellbeing service providing 24/7 online support; Bibliotherapy resources; a Relaxation Programme; and regular groups and workshops run by the Counselling Service. A list of other support networks you can access can be found on our Counselling Service webpages here.