Pubdate: Thu, 23 May 2002
Source: Day, The (CT)
Contact:  2002 The Day Publishing Co.
Website: http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

REPORT: TEEN DIES OF COMPLICATIONS FROM DRUG ECSTASY

East Hampton (AP) -- Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old 
East Hampton girl, who died after reportedly taking the drug Ecstasy at a 
party last weekend.

Makayla Korpinen died Tuesday afternoon at the Connecticut Children's 
Medical Center in Hartford, where she had been in extremely critical 
condition since Saturday, The Hartford Courant reported on its Web site, 
ctnow.com.

An autopsy Wednesday found that Korpinen died of complication of 
intoxication. A spokesman in the medical examiner's office said the 
substance has not been determined.

Police said Korpinen swallowed a powdered form of Ecstasy at the party 
Friday night and then went into seizures when her boyfriend took her to his 
house afterward, the Web site reported.

Her boyfriend's mother called for an ambulance and Korpinen was taken to 
Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. She was then transferred to the 
children's hospital, where she lapsed into a coma.

Police are investigating and are trying to determine who provided the drug.

Ecstasy, also known as XTC or E, affects serotonin, a brain chemical that 
regulates mood, emotion, sleep, appetite, memory and sexual behavior. The 
drug typically induces feelings of euphoria, increased energy and is also 
said to suppress the need to eat, drink or sleep, making it possible to 
endure parties for two or three days.
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