Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Renato Gandia Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) ECSTASY TOLL RISES City cops are probing a sixth death tied to ecstasy, the latest in a string of overdoses on the drug containing the deadly compound PMMA. Police say a 43-year-old man died in a northeast home in July 2011, but it was only this week when authorities uncovered the link. A review by the coroner's office revealed that the man had ingested ecstasy made with the compound PMMA, a toxic chemical said to be a cheaper additive in the production of synthetic drugs known as ecstasy. Investigators are also awaiting results of toxicology tests on a seventh case after a man died from a suspected overdose over the weekend. Sgt. Mike Bossley of the drug unit said their investigations are progressing with ample tips from the public, mostly anonymous. He declined to discuss details on the cases investigators are currently working on. Bossley also said the drugs aren't necessarily coming from one source. They could be manufactured in different locations at different times,=94 he said. There's nothing to indicate that it=92s one source at this time.=94 Calgary has experienced a string of ecstasy overdoses in recent months and in each case testing showed the presence of PMMA. In November, 16-year-old Alex Kristof died after taking ecstasy during a party at a Harvest Hills home, then about a month later, two men, an 18-year-old and a 25-year-old, died after overdosing on the drug. Alberta Health Services responded by issuing a rare public warning about the dangers of ecstasy, especially if the drug is spiked with PMMA. But days later, police were investigating another apparent ecstasy overdose after a man in his 20s was found unconscious on a driveway in the 1600 block of St. Andrews Pl. N.W. He later died in hospital. As the number of ecstasy fatalities has increased =AD six between July and December =AD police have been training officers to look for signs of PMMA when dealing with natural death investigations. Sgt. Frank Cattoni of the youth services unit, said they've also increased awareness among students at schools about the perils of drugs. A new poster, which compares the perils of ingesting drugs to eating a rotting sandwich, has been distributed at Calgary schools. Cattoni said the poster will help officers who work as resources at schools strike up conversation with students about the danger of drugs. We wanted them to use this poster as a starting point for talking to young people,=94 said Cattoni. While school resources are key to keeping children away from drugs, parents play a crucial role by talking to their kids early on about the matter, he said. Cattoni also stressed there's no such as thing as a bad batch of ecstasy. There's no such thing as street drugs that=92s safe, you don't know the content of street narcotics,=94 he said. Police are now also using social media in their campaign against drug use, especially among kids. Since 2008, more than 30 people in Alberta have died following incidents involving ecstasy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom