Emergency workers were called to an apartment in Surfers Paradise about 11pm on Friday after reports of people unconscious and not breathing.
Queensland Ambulance Service's Mitchell Ware said three patients were treated for a suspected drug overdose, including a 43-year-old woman who was in cardiac arrest.
"The (43-year-old woman) required specialist care and despite all attempts was declared deceased on the scene," he said.
"The other two were not breathing for themselves so ambulance (medics) obviously had to provide supplemental oxygen for them."
The two other women, also aged 43, were taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Both remain in hospital, where one is being treated in the intensive care unit in a critical condition.
The other woman is considered stable.
Four other people were assessed at the scene but were not taken to hospital.
Mr Ware said paramedics have seen an increase in similar incidents.
"We are going to these patients frequently," he said.
"They present, whether it be unconscious, they can stop breathing, they can become violent."
Mr Ware said a toxicology report would be prepared by police, but warned people of the risks of recreational drug use.
"There is no such thing as a party drug," he said.
"When people are obviously buying these drugs there is an element of risk. You don't know what's going into them, you don't know who's made them."
Police will prepare a report for the coroner into the 43-year-old's death.
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