“After drinking a beverage, my whole body stiffened”: Japanese actor and DJ Mao Hamasaki rushed to hospital [Health Talk]

[Financial News]  Japanese actor and DJ Mao Hamasaki, 33, was taken to hospital after suffering full-body convulsions and impaired consciousness after drinking a beverage suspected of being drugged at a party in Hong Kong. Hospital tests reportedly came back positive for four drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy (MDMA). Acute drug intoxication can cause not only convulsions and loss of consciousness but also serious cardiovascular complications.
According to reports on the 3rd from Hong Kong media outlet HK01 and Japan’s Kyodo News, among others, Mao Hamasaki lost consciousness and collapsed at a private party in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in the early hours of the 1st and was rushed to hospital.
At the time, Hamasaki had finished a DJ set in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and was due to perform at another venue after being invited by a customer. Hamasaki reportedly drank a beverage after taking part in a dice game called Liar’s Dice at the venue.
On the 2nd, Mao Hamasaki described what happened at the time on social media.
Hamasaki said, “I drank two cocktail-like drinks that tasted like orange juice,” adding, “There was sediment at the bottom of the glass, but I thought it was orange pulp and didn’t think much of it.”
Hamasaki said unusual symptoms, including hazy memories, appeared after about 40 minutes to an hour, when the performance began.
Hamasaki’s condition rapidly worsened after drinking the same kind of beverage again during the performance.
Hamasaki said, “Before long, my whole body stiffened and I couldn’t move at all,” adding, “I eventually lost consciousness, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in an ambulance.”
Mao Hamasaki’s manager told local media that Hamasaki had been treated in intensive care and that drug tests came back positive for four substances, including cocaine, MDMA and a mixed drug known locally as “Happy Water.”
Hamasaki said they later regained consciousness and were receiving treatment, and that their health was gradually improving.
Hong Kong police investigated the case and arrested a local man, 61, on the 2nd on suspicion of administering a noxious substance with intent to harm another person. However, it has not been established who actually put drugs in the beverage, and police are investigating other people connected to the case.

The act of putting drugs or alcohol in someone’s drink without their consent is known in English as “drink spiking.”
According to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, drug-spiked drinks can cause a range of symptoms, depending on the type and amount of substance used.

Common symptoms include sudden dizziness and drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty walking, blurred vision, confusion and memory loss.
In particular, if someone suddenly becomes very intoxicated or their consciousness becomes impaired after drinking much less alcohol than usual, drug spiking may be suspected.
Symptoms vary depending on the type and amount of drug consumed, as well as any alcohol already consumed or medication being taken.
Symptoms such as the whole body stiffening, convulsions or loss of consciousness, as in Mao Hamasaki’s case, constitute a medical emergency.
However, a positive drug test alone does not establish the precise route of exposure or whether a drug was administered deliberately. Police are also investigating the specific circumstances of this case.


Cocaine and MDMA, which were reportedly detected in this case, are stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stimulants such as cocaine and MDMA can raise heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, and affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
Excessive exposure can cause extreme anxiety and agitation, hallucinations and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to complications such as a heart attack or stroke.
Cocaine in particular can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, constrict blood vessels and put strain on the heart. This can reduce blood flow to the heart or increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat.
MDMA can also cause a rise in body temperature, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Severe hyperthermia can develop into a medical emergency that damages the function of multiple organs.
The body’s reaction becomes even harder to predict when different drugs are mixed or alcohol is consumed at the same time.
However, “Happy Water,” as it has been described in this case, is not the name of a single drug with a consistent composition, but a term referring to beverages containing a mixture of substances. The substances actually detected and their concentrations will need to be confirmed by detailed test results.
The CDC recommends seeking emergency medical help immediately if someone exposed to stimulants loses consciousness, has convulsions or difficulty breathing, or experiences severe chest pain or a high fever.

If your consciousness suddenly becomes impaired or you cannot move properly after drinking something, do not assume it is simply a reaction to alcohol.
The UK’s NHS advises that anyone suspected of having consumed a drug-spiked drink should be assessed by a medical professional immediately if they experience severe drowsiness, hallucinations or impaired consciousness.
In particular, call 119 immediately if the person loses consciousness or has convulsions.
If the person is unconscious, check whether they are breathing. If they are breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position to keep their airway clear. If they are not breathing or their breathing is abnormal, perform CPR as directed by the 119 emergency call-taker.
If convulsions occur, move dangerous objects nearby to prevent injury. Do not try to hold the person’s arms or legs down or put fingers or objects in their mouth.
It is also dangerous to force water or food on someone whose consciousness is impaired, as it could enter their airway and cause aspiration pneumonia or choking.
The CDC recommends reporting, to the extent possible, what substance was consumed and when symptoms began, so emergency medical personnel can quickly assess the patient if a drug overdose is suspected.

Mao Hamasaki said there was sediment at the bottom of the drink but thought it was fruit pulp. However, not all drugs can be detected with the naked eye.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the UK explains that some drugs added to drinks may have little or no color, smell or taste, and may not produce visible sediment.
Therefore, even if a drink looks and tastes as usual, you cannot be certain that it has not been spiked.
Stop drinking if a beverage tastes or smells unusual or appears to have been tampered with.
If you suspect a drink has been spiked, ask a trusted companion or staff at the venue for help and move to a safe place.
UK police advise getting a blood or urine test promptly after an incident, as the time drugs remain detectable in the body may be short, depending on the substance.
London’s Metropolitan Police in the UK says some drugs can leave the body within 12 hours or even sooner. Other drugs can be detected for several days, so results vary depending on when the test is taken.
In particular, drug tests conducted in hospitals are intended to guide patient treatment and may differ in purpose and scope from forensic tests carried out by law enforcement agencies.
Mao Hamasaki said the incident had prompted them to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and urge caution to help prevent others from becoming victims.
The UK’s NHS recommends stopping consumption of the drink immediately and seeking medical help if drug spiking is suspected. It also advises getting a medical assessment to check one’s health if there was a loss of consciousness or memory at the time, even if symptoms have since improved.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter