Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jan 2012
Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/QU97nuCm
Website: http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492
Author: Mary-Ann Barr
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

TOXIC ECSTASY IS KILLING STREET DRUG USERS

It's like something out of a drug movie, only it's not. It's real 
life, dirty and ugly.

If you use ecstasy, now would be a good time to stop.

People using the street drug ecstasy are overdosing and dying because 
it has been cut with a toxic and potent chemical.

As many as eight deaths in Alberta and five in Metro Vancouver as of 
Monday are now suspected as being linked to tainted ecstasy 
containing lethal paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA).

Most of the Alberta deaths have occurred in Calgary and surrounding 
area -- so far. Two Edmonton women who went to Calgary were poisoned 
when they bought ecstasy there. They survived. Those who didn't would 
have experienced brain hemorrhaging before death.

It's scary, especially for parents of young adults who may decide to 
try ecstasy.

"Just say no" is a nice idea but I'm not so sure that it achieves 
what's intended -- to teach young people to avoid using street drugs.

Ecstasy is known as the party drug. It's a synthetic, mind-altering 
drug that tends to show up at dance clubs and raves.

Many of the tainted ecstasy deaths have involved younger people. In 
Calgary, a 16-year-old male overdosed in November.

Since then, other deaths in Calgary have included individuals ages 
18, 23, 25, 29 and 31. A 16-year-old male in Langley, B.C., died from 
an overdose on Jan. 15.

Ecstasy use is not just happening in larger centres. It's used 
everywhere across the country, including Central Alberta. Red Deer 
City RCMP have seized the drug in busts. At this point, there have 
been no reported deaths in our area from the tainted pills.

But the message is urgent and can't be overstated -- there's a lot 
more danger than usual out there for anyone who decides to use 
ecstasy. Until authorities can get to the bottom of where the tainted 
drug is coming from, and hopefully, but unlikely, put a stop to it, 
users really could be serving themselves up a death sentence.

While some people using the drug could overdose and recover, they 
could then face a lifetime of heath issues. An overdose of PMMA could 
permanently damage the body's organs.

PMMA is five times more toxic than what's usually found in ecstasy, 
otherwise known as MDMA.

The criminals who make street drugs are not doing it so everyone can 
have a great time at the next party. They do it to make money.

PMMA is cheaper than ecstasy so it is being cut into ecstasy so drug 
dealers make more money, and apparently meet increasing demand.

In 2011, a ban on some of the chemicals used to make MDMA may have 
resulted in different additives being used.

PMMA takes longer to take effect, which leads to users sometimes 
taking more of it.

People who choose to buy and use street drugs really have no idea who 
made them or what's in them.

The tainted ecstasy is believed to have come from B.C. Police say 
that the Lower Mainland of British Columbia is where most ecstasy 
production takes place in Canada, and it is tied to organized crime.

Police and health professionals began to warn the public about a 
month ago but numerous deaths have occurred since.

Right now in an alarming and growing number of cases, the only 
partying some ecstasy users are going to see will be one that 
involves the dance of death.

Don't use the drug.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom