Pubdate: Thu, 08 Sep 2005
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Louise Dickson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

'A SPARKLE IN EVERYONE'S EYE'

Family, Friends Grieve For 13-Year-Old Who Died After Ingesting Street
Drug

The family of Mercedes-Rae Clarke wants people to know the 13-year-old
Victoria teenager died a needless death.

A family member, who didn't want to be named, described her as a
loving, beautiful girl who valued family and friends, and who liked
dancing and shopping. "She was a petite, beautiful 13-year-old. She
was a sparkle in everyone's eyes. She is loved beyond anybody's
thoughts and will live in everyone's mind. To have this happen was
totally unfair," he said.

Mercedes-Rae, who was about to start Grade 9 at Oak Bay high school,
died in Victoria General Hospital, from what could have been an
overdose from a form of crystal meth, said Richard Stanwick, chief
medical health officer for Vancouver Island. She and two friends
bought and ingested what they thought was the drug ecstasy.
Mercedes-Rae became violently ill. The other girls were unharmed.

"Her family want people to know this was not an allergic reaction,"
said Stanwick. "Their message is that this was not an atypical
reaction. It's just that she got some really bad stuff."

Stanwick is worried a bad batch of ecstasy may be on the street -- a
batch that will kill other people. "Because ecstasy is regularly laced
with crystal meth, I wonder if this was some sloppy chemistry," said
Stanwick. "You wonder if there was one really bad pill in the batch or
if there are others that were mis-mixed."

This is the third time in three weeks that people have unsuspectingly
bought drugs that have turned out to be something else, he said.
Stanwick was referring to a cluster of deaths in Vancouver where eight
streetwise addicts died from ultra-pure heroin, and to an accident on
the Malahat where a van crashed into a rock face. "The people in the
van had bought a white powder and fell asleep. They could have driven
off the cliff," said Stanwick. "You think you might be buying an upper
and you end up taking a downer. It's definitely a game of roulette
when you make these purchases. Your first purchase could be your last."

Mercedes-Rae probably took a pill with a high concentration of
amphetamine. "It's a matter of the wrong person getting the wrong
amount of substance and having the absolute worst outcome."

Coroner Lisa Lapointe said toxicology tests have been ordered to find
out what killed the young girl. "Her death is related to a substance
she ingested," said Lapointe. "It's devastating and you want every
child to hear about it and hopefully learn about it. Teenagers are so
naive."

At Oak Bay high Wednesday afternoon, Mercedes-Rae's school friends
were sad and angry at her sudden death.

"I really wanted to get to know her better," said Caitlan Vinkle, 13.
"I found it really hard to concentrate today."

"I'm pissed off at the drug dealers," said Emily Coldwell. "She was
only 13. I don't think she knew what she was in for."

Mercedes-Rae attended Central middle school last year. A service will
be held at the school, 1280 Fort St., on Friday at 3:45 p.m.
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