Pubdate: Thu, 04 Sep 2014
Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/chico/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559

TEEN SNORTS RAT POISON, DIES

Three Anderson Teenagers Mistake Strychnine for Cocaine

A 16-year-old in Anderson died on Aug. 22 after snorting a white 
powder he and two friends had mistaken for cocaine.

On Aug. 28, Anderson Police announced that lab analysis identified 
the powder as strychnine, a pesticide used as rodent poison, 
according to the Redding Record Searchlight. A police press release 
noted that consuming the substance produces "dramatic and painful" symptoms.

The three teens obtained the poison from a friend who had found a 
vial of the white powder in his garage. After snorting the substance, 
two of the teens went into seizure and the third became seriously 
ill. One of the boys died within 30 minutes of ingestion. The two 
others, ages 16 and 13, survived after receiving treatment at a hospital.

A criminal investigation is ongoing, but no arrest has been made thus far.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom