Date November 24, 2015 16 reading now Comments 29 Marissa Calligeros Marissa Calligeros Online reporter View more articles from Marissa Calligeros Follow Marissa on Twitter Email Marissa inShare submit to reddit Email article Print Reprints & permissions Jordy Hurdes' viral video warns of ecstasy dangers Watch Jordy Hurdes shaking and having muscle spasms as he speaks about the reaction he claims to have had to 'pingas'. The three-minute video shows a young man stuttering and shaking uncontrollably as he struggles to tell the world how a cheap thrill almost took his life. Jordy Hurdes' message is a powerful one that has been viewed nearly a million times on Facebook. The 20-year-old from the northern Victorian town of Wangaratta stares into the camera as he speaks about the reaction he claims to have had to ecstasy. Jordy Hurdes Jordy Hurdes Photo: Facebook "Hi guys, my name is Jordy Hurdes. I just wanted to share my story of what happened," he says. "The party scene's pretty big these days in Australia and so is ecstasy — also known as 'pingas' — as most of you would know it as." Mr Hurdes says he does not want sympathy, only to raise awareness of the dangers of a "cheap thrill". 'It's not worth it': Jordy Hurdes lives in Wangaratta with his family. 'It's not worth it': Jordy Hurdes lives in Wangaratta with his family. Photo: Facebook "Doctors can't believe I'm still alive. I'm so grateful I'm still here," he says. "It's a waiting game at the moment to see whether I'll have permanent jerking like I do now, as you can see, and with my stutter I'm not sure whether it will go or get better any time soon. "It's played a huge part in my life and affected my family and friends." Jordy Hurdes with his mum, dad and brother. Jordy Hurdes with his mum, dad and brother. Photo: Facebook He does not reveal when he took the pill, or whether he took more than one. He says he believes he took ecstasy, although he does not say if it was confirmed by tests. Fairfax Media is trying to confirm which hospital treated Mr Hurdes and establish what drug or substance might have caused his condition. In the emotional message, he begs other young Australians to stay strong and say no to drugs. "Just please guys, don't get sucked in. It all seems like fun and games and a cheap $25 pill, but it's not worth it. If I have to live like this it's going to be a struggle for the rest of my life. "Be the stronger person, say no to drugs. If not, do it for me." He invites people to share the video to ensure as many people as possible hear his message. The clip has been shared more than 37,000 times and liked more than 26,000 times. By midday on Monday, it had attracted more than 1700 comments from people applauding his bravery and wishing him a speedy recovery. In an earlier Facebook post on Saturday, November 21, Mr Hurdes said he had been in hospital for the "past few days". A photo Jordy Hurdes posted to Facebook on November 21 "Taking party drugs (pills, pingas, googs) seems like a fun option and you don't think anything life changing could happen to you," he wrote. "Please please please don't take the 'cheaper fun' option, because you never know if it could happened [sic] to you." Mr Hurdes refers to ecstasy as the "cheaper fun", because a $25 pill is considered by some young revellers to be more effective and less expensive than buying alcohol at clubs and pubs. A friend of Mr Hurdes said it was not easy to watch her friend suffer. "It's not easy watching your best friend go through something like this, and have his whole world turned around in such a short amount of time!" Joelle Burton wrote on Facebook. "So proud of this boy for being so strong and positive through all of this! For letting people know what he is going through and what he could possibly go through forever. "Please take the time to watch and share this video. Drugs are all fun and games till you go through this or watch someone so close to you have to go through this." "You're going to get through this Jordy Hurdes with all of us right by your side." Local Wangaratta publican Steve Wilson, who owns the Albion and Grand Central nightclubs, told media last year that patrons were sourcing ecstasy tablets, rather than paying for pre-mixed spirits over the bar to avoid hefty costs since the "alcopops" tax was introduced. He said revellers would rather buy an ecstasy pill for $20 than spend the same amount on two Jim Beam stubbies. "That's what the kids are doing, they're making a decision and asking themselves whether to spend $120 on alcohol or $20 on an ecstasy tablet which will last them the night," he told the Wangaratta Chronicle. More than 10 per cent of Australians aged over 14 years have used ecstasy one or more times in their life, according to the Australian Drug Foundation. In regional Victoria, the number of people who are treated by ambulance paramedics after taking what they believe to be ecstasy is increasing. There was a 60 per cent increase in the 2012-13 financial year. Conversely, there was a 10 per cent decrease in metropolitan Melbourne. 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The truth is, however, is that the risk of such an adverse reaction is very rare, and people will always experiment with drugs and ecstasy no matter what. It's also true that drugs are made unnecessarily unsafer because of the police's zero tolerance approach. This results in unsavoury characters being in control of manufacturing drugs and hampers harm-minimisation measures like testing and other health service responses. Commenter Barbey Location Sydney Date and time November 24, 2015, 1:07PM "This results in unsavoury characters being in control of manufacturing drugs and hampers harm-minimisation measures like testing and other health service responses." Barbey, Legalisation of drugs is not going to happen. Pleased the cops have a zero tolerance approach. Commenter Tristan Location Melbourne Date and time November 24, 2015, 2:24PM If you think adverse reactions are uncommon you are being naive. Everyone I know including myself that took ecstasy regularly in our early 20's has issues with anxiety and depression in our 30's whereas the ones that didn't surprise surprise don't! I had plenty of bad reactions which at worst would leave me scattered for a couple of days and at worst couped up in the house too scared to face the world. If you wanna experiment, knock yourself out, but screwing with your brain chemistry has consequences Commenter AdrianMelb Date and time November 24, 2015, 2:43PM Tristan, the prohibition endangers lived and has not stopped a single person from experimenting. Period. Adrian, so you've tried ecstasy? Tell me what it's like, I'd love to know! You took it upon yourself to experiment with pills despite its illegal status which proves my point. You also report some negative reactions which also serves to prove that perhaps those drugs have you a bad reaction because there was no control over what went into whatever you've had. I don't think all drugs should be legalised, but a shift from a law enforcement focus to a health one would help protect people like Jordy greatly. Commenter Barbey Date and time November 24, 2015, 3:00PM This is the truth, because of the zero tolerance criminals will continue to put chemicals such as PMZ in their products to maximise profit. These are people who just simply don't care and never will because they know they can get away with it. The fact is that no matter how much fear mongering is placed on these substances, people will always try them and there will always be an extremely small minority of people who's lives will unfortunately change because they drew the unlucky card and received a death pill. Educate people on safe use and give testing kits/tents at events without the taboo associated with it, the death rate will fall. Commenter SpotOn Date and time November 24, 2015, 3:07PM "I don't think all drugs should be legalised, but a shift from a law enforcement focus to a health one would help protect people like Jordy greatly." Barbey, Education and law enforcement work hand in hand. The health message is already to educate people not to do drugs because they are bad for your health. I don't think it should be condoned because of the long term health consequences, the tying up of emergency wards resuscitating people who have overdosed, and the people who are harmed by others who are high on drugs then drive a car or steal to support their drug habit. Commenter Tristan Location Melbourne Date and time November 24, 2015, 4:01PM Tristan, You are wrong, plain and simple. Legalisation has gained great momentum. Marijuana will be legalised for recreational use in Australia within five years. Across-the-board policies such as those of Portugal are inevitable - held up only by ignorant politicians, or those who have a vested interest in criminalisation. There is simply no viable argument for continuing the failed policy of prohibition. Commenter Enough Date and time November 24, 2015, 4:23PM Tristan, most of what you are talking about is caused by prohibition, not solved by it. Commenter Nick Location Perth Date and time November 24, 2015, 6:48PM Enough, SpotOn & Barbey, agree with you entirely. Tristan, there was a huge "experiment" in the USA with the prohibition of alcohol back in the '20s. The lessons that should have been learned then were that 1) there's a demand for drugs, 2) there will be people who will fill that demand, and 3) the people (criminals) who fill that demand will make huge sums of money and in the process corrupt police officers, politicians, business leaders, union officials, etc. For all the bad things that drugs do to people, it would be far better if they were controlled by government. That way, safe doses would be available at reasonable prices for those who want to go down that track. Also quick medical intervention would be available for those who (somehow) managed to overdose. Police would then be able to concentrate on the real criminals in society (speeding motorists, etc.). Commenter bassmanpete Location Lancefield Date and time November 24, 2015, 7:07PM Tristan, Australian EDs are clogged with alcohol related issues, not illicit drugs. Commenter Ailie Date and time November 24, 2015, 7:16PM More comments Login to Comment New user? 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He does not reveal when he took the pill, or whether he took more than one. He says he believes he took ecstasy, although he does not say if it was confirmed by tests.
Fairfax Media is trying to confirm which hospital treated Mr Hurdes and establish what drug or substance might have caused his condition.
In the emotional message, he begs other young Australians to stay strong and say no to drugs.
"Just please guys, don't get sucked in. It all seems like fun and games and a cheap $25 pill, but it's not worth it. If I have to live like this it's going to be a struggle for the rest of my life.
"Be the stronger person, say no to drugs. If not, do it for me."
He invites people to share the video to ensure as many people as possible hear his message. The clip has been shared more than 37,000 times and liked more than 26,000 times. By midday on Monday, it had attracted more than 1700 comments from people applauding his bravery and wishing him a speedy recovery.
In an earlier Facebook post on Saturday, November 21, Mr Hurdes said he had been in hospital for the "past few days".

Read more:"Doctors can't believe I'm still alive. I'm so grateful I'm still here," he says."It's a waiting game at the moment to see whether I'll have permanent jerking like I do now, as you can see, and with my stutter I'm not sure whether it will go or get better any time soon.
"It's played a huge part in my life and affected my family and friends."

 

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