Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2012
Source: Drayton Valley Western Review (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Bowes Publishers Limited
Contact: http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Website: http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/980
Author: Lesley Allan

ECSTASY IN LOCAL AREA, BUT NOT MOST COMMON DRUG

Two people were arrested Feb. 8 in Calgary after a covert operation 
uncovered ecstasy which tested positive for paramethoxymethamphetamine 
(PMMA), the chemical responsible for 14 deaths in Alberta and B.C.

With eight of the deaths occurring in Calgary and one in Red Deer,
other regions of the province have not yet showed any incidences
related to this case. Despite this fact local authorities are warning
residents of the dangers that come along with any drug.

"The deaths in Calgary and British Columbia speak to the risks
associated with that type of lifestyle," says Staff Sgt. Brain Jones
of the Drayton Valley RCMP. "[Whether] you're a full-time user or a
part time user, you're putting your life in someone else's hands by
using that type of material. The more we learn about it, and how
dangerous this one particular batch or type of ecstasy is, why would
you put your life in somebody's hands when they have absolutely no
regard for your safety and your concern?"

Here in Drayton Valley and Brazeau County authorities come into
regular contact with narcotics, including ecstasy, and although it is
not the most popular in the area police still says it's still an issue
they're combating.

"Our experiences are that it's not the most common, but it is
certainly common enough that our officers come into contact with it on
a regular basis. It certainly has been associated to events in and
around this community, I'm thinking specifically of one held in
Parkland County called Motion Notion," Jones explains. "Our officers
are familiar with [the drug] and have had contact with it as recently
as a couple weeks ago when we had made a small seizure where it's
believed that we recovered a small quantity of ecstasy."

Based on what officers see on the streets, Jones believes that
cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana are the most
common drugs used in the area. These substances are also often the
reason many addicts will be referred to treatment, whereas ecstasy is
almost seen as an accessory to harder substances and alcohol.

"Ecstasy is the kind of drug that is usually used in combination with
other things, so we don't get a lot of referrals for ecstasy but we
are aware that it is used in the community," says Dana Sharp-McLean,
area supervisor of Addiction and Mental Health for Alberta Health
Services. "I think some people do develop addictions to it, but it's
just something that is used more so in a social or party atmosphere.
Not a lot of people just use ecstasy exclusively."

No matter how much and how often narcotics are consumed there are
risks you take. As seen in the recent cases involving ecstasy laced
with PMMA, you never know what it is you're getting, even when you are
an avid user.

"The same issue comes up when anybody uses a street drug because
there's no quality control in the manufacturing of it. So you could be
getting any number of substances from crystal meth to anything really
because you have no way of telling what's in the substance," warns
Sharp-McLean. "There's no safe street drug and there's no safe dose.
Anyone who is using it is putting themselves at risk. Even though
there might not be PMMA in it, it's not a safe drug to be using anyway."

If you or someone you know who is struggling with drug abuse, or you
just want to learn more about the issue you can contact Addictions and
Mental Health is Drayton Valley by calling (780) 542-5669 or visit
www.albertahealthservices.ca . 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.