Students hospitalised after reportedly taking drug cocktail ‘Scuzz’

Efforts were continuing last night to try to determine what drugs were taken by a group of students who had to be hospitalised.

The students union at University College Dublin issued a warning yesterday after it emerged six students became seriously ill after taking what some believe was a drug dubbed ‘Scuzz’, supposedly a combination of LSD and amphetamine.

Gardaí searched a house in Blackrock, Dublin, and seized a small quantity of what is believed to be LSD/ methamphetamine paper that splits into tabs.

But they stressed they were awaiting analysis of the sheet, which includes a picture of comic book hero Captain America, before drawing any conclusions.

Experts yesterday warned of the dangers of combining LSD, a hallucinogen, and amphetamine, a stimulant.

“There is a real risk of harm here,” David Finn, professor of pharmacology at NUI Galway said. “The effects of amphetamine on the cardiovascular system are actually quite potent. It can raise blood pressure and increase heart rate.

“LSD, depending on the dose that’s taken but particularly at higher doses, can also have effects on the cardiovascular system.

“Once you start taking these drugs alone or in combination you’re into uncharted territory because one doesn’t know how much of the drug one’s taking or how they’re going to work in combination.”

Tim Bingham of the Irish Needle Exchange Forum said he had never come across the term “scuzz”.

“What I’m hearing is that the drugs were taken separately but at the same time which means a much broader warning needs to go out than simply telling people to watch out for one particular new drug,” he said.

UCD welfare and equality officer Cian Dowling said students tended to source drugs off-campus.