Pubdate: Fri, 03 Aug 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: John Colebourn

POLICE ISSUE WARNING OVER ECSTASY

Police are once again warning people about the risk of taking ecstasy 
after a Maple Ridge woman died after a night of partying.

The 21-year-old was taken to hospital by ambulance Sunday morning 
following a late-night party where alcohol and illicit drugs were consumed.

She was unresponsive and in serious condition when she arrived at the 
hospital and died Tuesday.

While a toxicology report will take a number of weeks, both police 
and the coroner's office are warning that ecstasy can be mixed with a 
number of chemicals that can be deadly when consumed.

In the past year 10 people in Alberta, five in B.C. and one in 
Saskatchewan have died from Pmma-adulterated ecstasy, and a number of 
others have suffered non-fatal overdoses.

Arrests of two alleged smalltime traffickers was made in February, 
but in early May RCMP in Penticton were warning the toxic party drug 
had surfaced there.

Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh said police are not yet clear 
what was in the drugs the young woman consumed.

According to Barb Mclintock of the B.C. Coroner's Service the big 
risk in buying ecstasy at places such as a rave is people don't know 
what it is mixed with.

"You buy it on the street and you don't have a clue how good it is," 
she said. "It is an odd drug and you can get an allergic -type reaction to it."

In Abbotsford, Const. Ian MacDonald said police plan on hitting 
schools this fall to warn teens of the deadly consequences of 
ecstasy. The Abbotsford Police Department made a documentary on the 
dangers of ecstasy and it is shown in schools as well.

"This is a very sad case," said Walsh of the Maple Ridge death.

"Ecstasy and methamphetamine are almost identical in chemical 
composition, are made with almost all of the same chemicals and both 
are extremely dangerous," he said.

The drugs produce feelings of increased energy, euphoria and 
emotional warmth, and distortions in time, perception and tactile 
experiences. It is taken orally, usually as a capsule or tablet.
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