Pubdate: Sun, 12 May 2002
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Peter Smith

'DEADLY' ECSTASY HITS CITY

Three men collapsed unconscious in different bars and nightclubs early 
yesterday after a dangerous and maybe deadly batch of ecstasy hit the streets.

Paramedics and police are warning nightclub revellers and late-night 
drinkers to beware of buying ecstasy, as the dangerous batch is probably 
still being trafficked.

Paramedics first went to Victoria's Bar at 306 17 Ave. S.W. at 2:07 a.m., 
where they discovered a 22-year-old man unconscious, suffering a severe 
reaction to ecstasy. They took him to Rockyview Hospital.

Less than half an hour later paramedics were called to the back alley 
behind the Warehouse at 733 10 Ave. S.W., where a 23-year-old man was found 
collapsed and semi-conscious.

"He admitted to ingesting ecstasy earlier in the evening," said Emergency 
Medical Services spokesman Mike Plato.

Paramedics took the man to Foothills Hospital.

Within an hour paramedics were called out to the sidewalk at the Detour bar 
at 318 17 Ave. S.W., where they found a 21-year-old man unconscious on the 
ground.

"His sister was with him, and she said they'd both taken ecstasy and her 
brother had collapsed unconscious," said Plato.

This victim was taken to the Peter Lougheed Centre.

"Of the three men the first was the most serious, and he was potentially 
life-threatening when we first reached him," said Plato.

"Three separate cases of severe ecstasy reaction in less than 90 minutes 
underscores the danger of taking street drugs, and illustrates the 
associated risks."

Plato said it was unusual to get three cases one after the other.

"This should raise a red flag, people should be aware there's a supply of 
bad ecstasy out there," he said.

"Ecstasy increases heart rate and blood pressure, affects the cardiac, 
respiratory and central nervous systems, and can cause dehydration, severe 
reactions and death."

Police were called to the three collapses, and specialists from the drug 
unit will be investigating the source of the bad ecstasy.

"We constantly warn against the use of ecstasy because users never know 
exactly what they're taking and they're always at risk," said Insp. Blaine 
Knapik.

Police have been warning about a massive increase in ecstasy trafficking 
and usage in the past two years.

Between early 2000 and January this year, ecstasy seizures by city drug 
unit detectives soared by a staggering 525%.

It's an increasingly lucrative drug for traffickers, who buy ecstasy pills 
for $8 and sell them for $40 each.

Last year in Vancouver two people died after taking ecstasy pills 
contaminated with a deadly chemical at a rave party.

City police warned at the time of the dangers of similarly contaminated 
ecstasy reaching Calgary.
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