Nine overdoses reported in a week due to bad batch of drug GHB flooding Melbourne party scene POLICE fear a bad batch of the drug GHB has flooded the Melbourne party scene after nine overdoses were reported in less than a week. Senior officers will now put pressure on clubs around King St that operate well into the morning to stamp out any drug-taking at the venues. In early morning blitzes at the weekend, police arrested 23 people and bagged hundreds of ecstasy tablets, ice and GHB. The "blatant" drug dealing was confined to a multi-level carpark near the notorious nightclub strip. Opportunistic dealers increased their operations after 5am once the police presence had been scaled back. During the 48-hour operation police discovered three youngsters unconscious from a suspected drug overdose. Senior officers fear the overdose rate may be much higher, as many may go unreported. Superintendent Rod Wilson said police had to act quickly before there was a death. "These are people that are losing consciousness, and there have been fatal ingestions of these drugs," Supt Wilson said. I don't think the kids have any real understanding of the risks associated with these drugs. Police will speak to health authorities to get a better understanding of the party drug problem in the city, and to the liquor licensing authority. But Supt Wilson said much of the responsibility was on nightclubbers to stay clear of the drug scene. An 18-year-old was charged with trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence. He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday.