Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jan 2012
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Ian Austin, The Province

ECSTASY SUSPECTED IN TEEN'S DEATH

.C. Coroners Service to Investigate What Could Be Drug's Third Victim for 2012

Kato Burgess, a 16-year-old Langley teen, may be the latest in a rash 
of ecstasy-related deaths.

The B.C . Coroners Service announced Monday it is investigating the 
death of the teen as being potentially related to the use of ecstasy.

On Saturday night, Kato reportedly took ecstasy along with other 
pharmaceuticals. He collapsed in the early morning hours of Sunday, 
was raced to Langley Memorial Hospital, but could not be revived.

Last week, the B.C. Coroners Ser-vice announced that ecstasy tainted 
with PMMA was linked to five ecstasy-related deaths in B.C. in the 
past six months, along with several PMMA-linked deaths in Alberta.

B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said this latest death shows that 
any-one taking ecstasy is at risk, since there is no way of tracing 
where the unregulated drug came from.

"It's very scary," Lapointe told The Province. "Three people have 
already died this year - don't take this stuff."

Kato attended Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Surrey.

A Facebook site, entitled "In Loving Memory of Kato Burgess," quickly 
sprang up - with tributes as well as warnings to not follow in the 
dead teen's footsteps.

"This is a hard thing for all of us," wrote Sarah Koi on the Facebook memorial.

"Kato had a lot going for him, but his life was cut short. Please, you 
all have so much ahead of you. If you truly want to honour, 'in loving 
memory of Kato Burgess' - then think twice about what you do.

"Choose your friends wisely. Follow your gut. Never say, 'It won't 
happen to me.' He was worth so much more than a $5 pill."

Ninety-nine B.C. deaths have been linked to ecstasy in the past six years.

In 2011 alone, 16 deaths were linked to ecstasy, including three 
tainted with PMMA.

The year 2012 has proven to be especially deadly, with three ecstasy 
deaths already - two linked to PMMA - and now the Langley teen's death.

"It's terribly sad," said Lapointe. "The challenge is, people take 
ecstasy, or know people who take ecstasy, who have no ill effects.

"It's a designer drug that's created by somebody, maybe using a recipe 
off the Internet. We don't even know if they're putting in the PMMA by 
mistake."

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall said skeptical teens may 
not believe that ecstasy can kill - but they should face facts.

"The evidence is there right in front of us," said Kendall.

Kendall said teens are bombarded with messages that drugs are bad and 
can kill you, but right now they should really be taking that message to heart.

"We have to put out the message in a believable way," he said. "It 
takes something horrible to happen."
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