Synthetic drugs are becoming “commonplace” in overdoses: “It’s Russian roulette”

A body, a second, then a third lie on the sidewalks of the same neighborhood in eastern Paris. On Saturday, May 24, at dawn, these three young men, spat out by the Parisian night, are saved in extremis by the emergency services. They are struck by the same illness, colorless, odorless, contained in a small vial found on one of the victims. GHB, a synthetic drug used in "chemsex" parties. A substance associated, that night, with the consumption of 3-MMC and alcohol.

For Anne Batisse, head of the Paris addiction monitoring center, this scene is hardly surprising. Quite the opposite, and therein lies the problem: "It's a very commonplace affair," says the pharmacist, who emphasizes that vigilance against overdoses should not be limited to Parisian parties. "The phenomenon is here, it has taken hold throughout the country, fueled by the Internet, digital messaging, and home delivery. Cocaine and synthetic cannabinoids affect everyone," she explains.

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