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| New child in hospital over GHB | New child in hospital over GHB |
| (3 days later) | |
| Another child has been hospitalised after swallowing parts of a toy found to contain a substance linked to the date-rape drug GHB. | Another child has been hospitalised after swallowing parts of a toy found to contain a substance linked to the date-rape drug GHB. |
| Four children in Australia, two in New Zealand and two in the US have required treatment after swallowing the product. | Four children in Australia, two in New Zealand and two in the US have required treatment after swallowing the product. |
| Health authorities have appealed to people not to experiment with the beads in the hope of getting a chemical high. | Health authorities have appealed to people not to experiment with the beads in the hope of getting a chemical high. |
| The award-winning Bindeez toys have now been withdrawn from sale in both the United States and Australia. | The award-winning Bindeez toys have now been withdrawn from sale in both the United States and Australia. |
| Beads from the popular craft toy have been found to be coated in chemicals which transform into the banned drug GHB when swallowed. | Beads from the popular craft toy have been found to be coated in chemicals which transform into the banned drug GHB when swallowed. |
| The hospitalised children all suffered from dizziness and drowsiness and the two US children slipped into comas. All have since recovered. | The hospitalised children all suffered from dizziness and drowsiness and the two US children slipped into comas. All have since recovered. |
| The appeal from the authorities comes shortly before Schoolies Week, in which tens of thousands of newly-graduated school students travel to Queensland's Gold Coast for end of term celebrations. | The appeal from the authorities comes shortly before Schoolies Week, in which tens of thousands of newly-graduated school students travel to Queensland's Gold Coast for end of term celebrations. |
| There is concern that a black market in the beads could emerge, with people attempting to get a chemical high similar to that caused by the GHB drug, also known as fantasy. | |
| Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young is reportedly very concerned that young people will experiment with the beads. | Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young is reportedly very concerned that young people will experiment with the beads. |
| However The Age newspaper reports that Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney has called this fear 'bizarre', saying she had no information from the police to back up the claim. | However The Age newspaper reports that Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney has called this fear 'bizarre', saying she had no information from the police to back up the claim. |
| Coloured beads | Coloured beads |
| The toy has proved extremely popular in both the US and Australia. In 2007, Bindeez was named Australia's Toy of the Year. | The toy has proved extremely popular in both the US and Australia. In 2007, Bindeez was named Australia's Toy of the Year. |
| It consists of hundreds of brightly-coloured beads that can be arranged into a piece of art and sprayed with water to set. | It consists of hundreds of brightly-coloured beads that can be arranged into a piece of art and sprayed with water to set. |
| The beads are meant to be coated in a non-toxic glue, but a batch in Australia was found to be covered with a substance that did not match the approved formula. | The beads are meant to be coated in a non-toxic glue, but a batch in Australia was found to be covered with a substance that did not match the approved formula. |
| About 4.2 million units of the toy will be recalled in the US, officials said, and about one million in Australia. | About 4.2 million units of the toy will be recalled in the US, officials said, and about one million in Australia. |
| It is the latest in a series of safety scares over products made in China. | It is the latest in a series of safety scares over products made in China. |