Warning on ‘bath salts’ after young man’s death

The danger of a drug once sold in head-shops here and considered to be a "safe alternative " to ecstasy-type drugs is only beginning to be realised, the inquest into the death of a 25-year-old man has been told.

Methylone, a synthetic version of khat, and commonly known as “bath salts”, was emerging as a factor in sudden cardiac arrests, here and elsewhere, Dr Margot Bolster, State pathologist warned yesterday.

The inquest heard how Trevor Breen, aged 25, with an address at an apartment at Upper Castle Street Tralee, had “a cocktail” of prescription and non-prescription type drugs in his system after he collapsed at a friend’s house on Sept 22 last year.

The friend told the inquest he arrived at her house and was in an agitated state and was perspiring.

Mr Breen had gone into cardiac arrest at Kerry General hospital where he had been brought by ambulance and died in the early hours.

However, Dr Bolster believed the presence of methylone was a significant factor in Mr Breen’s death.

It is only recently that the danger of methylone, commonly known as bath salts, was beginning to be realised.

"Methylone toxicity has been greatly underestimated,” Dr Bolster said.