Jackson Tuckwell, who turns 18 on Wednesday, was out with friends at a Legian nightclub on Sunday night when he drank half a "blaster", which is supposed to be a concoction of vodka, other spirits and pineapple juice.

Less than half an hour later, Jackson had lost his vision and ability to walk.

He had to be carried out of the club and taken by ambulance to a Bali area hospital.

Bali has become increasingly popular with those looking to celebrate the end of their schooling, with a large contingent of Newcastle teenagers travelling to the tourist hot spot in the past week.

It's believed at least two other young Novocastrians have also been hospitalised suffering the same side-effects as Jackson in the past few days.

Jackson's mother, Tanya Tuckwell, received the phone call every parent dreads on Monday.

"My daughter was at school and she rang me to tell me she had heard Jackson was in hospital with methanol poisoning," she said.

"She said he was blind and he couldn't walk, that's when I really started to panic.

"It was every parent's worst nightmare.

"I didn't know whether to hop on a plane and fly over there or what."

Ms Tuckwell said she had since been desperately trying to speak with Jackson and had contacted the hotel he was staying at and the Australian Consulate-General in Bali.

She has since been told Jackson has been discharged from hospital. His friends said Jackson believed his drink had been spiked.

"He has been to Bali a few times before and he knows what goes on there," Ms Tuckwell said.

"He knows to only drink what you can open, his father told him that and his cousins told him that.

"But when they are all out, they obviously decide to drink some cocktails.

"We didn't really want him to go to Bali for schoolies, but when all his friends are going, then what can you do.

"The message needs to get out there, Bali is a beautiful place, but there is a downside and that is the nightclub scene. It can be very dangerous."

Last year a schoolies trip turned into a nightmare for central coast teenager Jasmine Barker after she was allegedly poisoned by a drink containing methanol at a nightclub in Bali.

In 2011, 25-year-old Newcastle nurse Jamie Johnston slipped into a coma and sustained brain scarring after drinking a locally distilled arak mixed with fruit juice at a restaurant in Lombok.

The incident left her struggling to speak and walk.

In December last year, 19-year-old Liam Davies from Perth died after he was poisoned by a drink containing methanol he consumed at a bar, also in Lombok.

What is methanol?

Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol. It is closely related to ethanol, the type of alcohol normally found in beer, wine and spirits – but much more toxic.

Tourists are among those most at risk of methanol poisoning, especially those travelling to countries like Indonesia and Thailand where home-brewed spirits are widely available.

Since poisoning often occurs in the context of drinking alcohol, the early symptoms may go unnoticed.

After a period of time, victims start to develop a headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and vertigo. They may start to hyperventilate and feel breathless. Vision is often affected, with blindness in severe cases. Coma, convulsions, and death from respiratory arrest may ensue. Patients who survive may suffer permanent visual impairment.

To protect yourself from methanol poisoning you should not buy or produce illegal alcoholic drinks, be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately.

 Source: World Health Organisation 

The Newcastle Herald