Police warning as two women fall ill after taking ‘Snapchat pills’
Written by News on 06/06/2018
Police have warned of the dangers of taking illegal drugs with catchy names after two people were taken to hospital having taken “Snapchat pills”.
It comes less than a fortnight after two people died and more than a dozen were taken to hospital when they fell ill at a music festival on the south coast.
Pills are often pressed into shapes resembling famous logos or brands to make potentially deadly substances appear harmless or attractive to young people.
West Yorkshire Police said on Twitter:”We want to remind the public about the dangers of drugs.
“Drugs are often given catchy names to appeal to young people. We had an incident involving 2 females in hospital after taking ‘Snapchat pills’.
“Any person offered drugs refuse & report via 101 or crime stoppers 0800 555111.”
Police have not released any images of the Snapchat pills but there have been cases of illegal drugs being manufactured as small yellow, brick-shaped tablets bearing the mobile app’s logo.
Tommy Cowan, 20, and Georgia Jones, 18, from Havant, Hampshire, died after attending the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth on 26 May.
Ms Jones’ family described the carer for people with learning and physical difficulties as a “very strong-willed and opinionated young lady”.
Mr Cowan, who is understood to have a one-year-old son, was described as a “caring father”.
Georgia’s mother Janine Milburn posted a plea on social media for people not to take drugs, adding that she hopes her message stops others from “ending up the same”.
She wrote on Facebook: “Georgia died yesterday due to complications after taking two pills at Mutiny.
“If nothing else I hope what has happened to her will deter you from taking anything ever.
“The pills had caused her temperature to rise so high it made her fit for 45 minutes.”
They pair were among 15 revellers taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital from the event.
Organisers issued a warning of a “high strength or bad batch” of drugs.
As a “safety precaution” the second day of the festival, which Craig David and Sean Paul were due to headline, was cancelled.
(c) Sky News 2018: Police warning as two women fall ill after taking ‘Snapchat pills’
