Pubdate: Wed, 14 Oct 2009
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

OKOTOKS TEEN IDENTIFIED IN ECSTASY-LINKED DEATH

Two Calgary Men Arrested On Drug Charges

The medical examiner has identified an Okotoks man who died after
collapsing at an all-night dance party at West Edmonton Mall over the
weekend.

Zachary Lamb, 19, collapsed early Monday during Frost 2009, a party at
Edmonton Event Centre featuring a long list of popular DJs.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics at about 4 a. m. and died a
couple hours later.

Police said Lamb was among hundreds in attendance and they suspected
he had taken the party drug ecstasy.

The medical examiner said further tests are required to determine how
Lamb died.

Police said he was with three friends--two men and a woman-- who were
treated for suspected ecstasy ingestion and later released.

Two Calgary men who were at the Frost rave have been arrested and
charged with possessing and manufacturing ecstasy, said West Division
Det. Neil Thompson.

He said police do not know if Lamb bought his drugs from the men who
were charged.

"I can't say for sure that the same batch of pills were consumed by
the man that died," Thompson said.

"There's a possibility, but it's going to be really hard to tell,
because there's a lot of people that sell that stuff and we don't have
a lot to go on. The people that buy it go around asking who has it for
sale, they don't get the names or anything."

Thompson said police were told Lamb took two pills.

The two men who were arrested on drug charges were not charged with
trafficking, Thompson said. The medical examiner tested one of the
pills seized and determined it was pure ecstasy.

Earlier this year, West Edmonton Mall suspended the popular Rock 'n'
Ride Dance Party at Galaxyland after the death of a 14-year-old girl.

Cassandra Williams and a friend overdosed after taking six pills of
ecstasy each during the April 25 event. The friend survived, but
Williams died the next day after being taken off life support.

A 16-year-old was later charged in connection to Williams' death. 
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