Young people traveling abroad have been issued a stark warning about the hidden cost of cheap shots on vacation, after two families lost their daughters to methanol poisoning.
The parents of 19-year-olds Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, who tragically died after drinking adulterated alcohol while on a trip to Laos in southeast Asia, have now warned other families against sending their kids to the destination.
Holly's parents Samantha Morton and Shaun Bowles told the Herald Sun: "[Our] hope is that Australians remove this county from their bucket list, your life is worth nothing over there and we have seen this first-hand as well as other families that have been involved in this tragedy."
Four other young people also died in the horrific mass poisoning after unwittingly consuming bootleg booze that had been laced with the toxic substance.
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Spotting the early warning signs of methanol poisoning is not always easy, but seeking immediate medical attention is essential to preventing the toxic substance's worst effects - blindness, kidney failure, and eventually death.
Professor Ismail Cinel, MD, at Acibadem Hospitals, explained: “Methanol poisoning is extremely dangerous, especially as the beginning symptoms can quite easily be mistaken for a mild form of alcohol intoxication."
What are the initial symptoms of methanol poisoning?
Methanol is a clear toxic substance that is typically used in an industrial setting, but can be used to dilute alcohol to increase profits by unscrupulous bar owners and manufacturers.
It can be easy to mistake the early signs of methanol poisoning for a holiday stomach bug or heavy hangover.
However, paying attention to your symptoms can help you to spot the poisoning before it gets worse.
Professor Cinel elaborated on this process, saying: "Over the course of the first few hours, those that have methanol poisoning may experience headaches, nauseousness, vomiting and dizziness, which can of course be symptoms of lots of different illnesses.
"Sometimes, these are paired with tummy pain, and just general weakness and lethargy."
What methanol does to your body
Unlike a hangover from drinking alcohol, which typically gets better over time, when people have ingested methanol their symptoms can rapidly deteriorate and quickly become lethal.
This is because, when your body breaks methanol down, it creates toxic byproducts that damage your organs, potentially causing kidney failure, blindness, and eventually even death.
"As the body metabolises the methanol, that’s where the real damage begins, so it’s best to get seen to as quickly as possible," Professor Cinel explained.
"The toxic metabolites, formaldehyde and formic acid will attack the optic nerve and central nervous system. This can lead to blurred or double vision, confusion, severe rapid breathing and in some cases, a coma or complete loss of sight."
The early warning sign of methanol poisoning
While you might feel fine immediately after drinking a shot contaminated with methanol, which has a similar effect to alcohol, this does not mean that you have avoided serious damage to your health.
In fact, if you feel fine at first but start to get seriously ill up to 24 hours after drinking, this is a seriously concerning sign that you might have been exposed to the toxic substance.
Professor Cinel detailed: "One of the key warning signs is the delayed onset of symptoms. Most people feel fine for up to 24 hours since exposure to methanol before suddenly deteriorating and deteriorating fast."
What to do if you suspect you have been poisoned by methanol
Should this happen to you after drinking alcohol abroad, it is essential to seek medical help immediately before your body metabolizes the toxic substance further.
The Acibadem Hospital doctor elaborated: "Anyone who suspects that they have consumed contaminated alcohol or has these symptoms after drinking should seek emergency medical attention as soon as they can. The earlier you get yourself seen by a hospital or specialist, the more chance you have of survival as this can be deadly.
"If you’re experiencing what you think is a hangover, but has any of those symptoms, it’s really best to not ignore it and get help as quickly as possible, as getting the help sooner rather than later will be absolutely life-saving.”
William Morgan