Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jan 2015
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Recorder and Times
Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters
Website: http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Alanah Duffy
Page: A1

INQUEST INTO POSSIBLE ECSTASY DEATH

KEMPTVILLE - Provincial police here are assisting a coroner's 
investigation into the death of a 23-year-old woman that may have 
been related to the use of ecstasy, also known as MDMA or Molly.

Grenville OPP say that just after 3 a.m. on Sunday, they were called 
to a Kemptville home to assist with a woman who had no vital signs. 
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Constable Cathy Lindsey of the Kemptville detachment said illegal 
substances believed to be ecstasy were found at the Kemptville home 
where the woman died, but could not speculate as to the cause of death.

"We can't really say what the cause of death is yet, until we get 
toxicology reports back, and even at that point, we're not 
necessarily going to know," she said.

"Right now, the cause of death is still under investigation."

The name of the woman who died is not being released at this point, 
said Lindsey, who confirmed the woman was a Kemptville resident.

A post-mortem examination has been completed and police are waiting 
for the results of the toxicology report, which Lindsey said could 
take weeks or months.

She said the provincial coroner's office was called in at the request 
of the detectives investigating the death.

Police have also issued a warning to the public about the danger of 
ecstasy, which can include the rapid and acute onset of symptoms and 
can lead to sudden death.

Using the drug can cause problems with the body's ability to regulate 
temperature, which can lead to hyperthermia, causing liver, kidney 
and heart failure.

Other effects of ecstasy include increases in heart rate and blood 
temperature, muscle tension, teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, 
faintness, chills or sweating and an increased risk of having unsafe sex.

Lindsay would not say how common ecstasy is in Grenville County.

"It is in our community. That's really as far as I can comment ; I 
can't say to what extent," she said. "Any bit of it is a lot." 
Detective-Sergeant Tom Fournier of the Brockville Police Service said 
it is not uncommon to see the drug in the city.

"It was here and then its use kind of faded away, but it's kind of 
made a comeback in this area," he said.

Like his counterparts in the OPP, Fournier cautioned against using 
the drug, which is made in labs and often referred to as a 'club drug.'

"You never know exactly what's in the drug," he said. "It's a very 
dangerous drug."
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