Pubdate: Tue, 23 Aug 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Matthew Ramsey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

'BAD' HEROIN BLAMED FOR 3 DRUG-USER DEATHS

Police Urge Addicts To Use Safe-Injection Site

A potent, or laced, batch of heroin killed three intravenous users in 
Vancouver on the weekend and police are pleading with others to be as safe 
as possible.

"We strongly believe there are bad drugs out there right now," said police 
spokeswoman Sgt. Anne Drennan.

"Anybody who does use heroin, please be extremely cautious."

Drennan said the two men and one woman who died in separate locations at 
different times on Saturday and Sunday were all in their 20s or early 30s. 
Two died in the Downtown Eastside and one in southeast Vancouver.

Two were known to be experienced drug users.

It's not known whether they got their drugs from the same source, but 
Drennan said it's unlikely because quantities of the drug are typically 
spread out among numerous dealers.

Toxicology reports are expected in about three weeks.

Drennan said it's common for dealers seeking to hook new customers to sell 
them very potent heroin at reduced costs, ramping up the price and 
diminishing the quality as the user becomes increasingly dependent.

She urged heroin users to shoot at the Insite safe-injection facility in 
the 100-block East Hastings if possible so they can get medical help.

Brent Canning, manager of the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society 
needle exchange program, printed up a warning yesterday to be distributed 
to users.

"Back in the day [when heroin was the most popular drug in the area] it 
[three overdoses in 48 hours] wasn't a lot," Canning said.

"Now it is. It is a really bizarre thing when three people overdose on the 
weekend and they don't know each other."

Drennan said police are working with organizations like Canning's to set up 
an early warning system to let users to know quickly when bad batches of 
drugs are on the streets.

The number of overdoses on illicit drugs has decreased since the mid-'90s.

In 1996, 322 British Col-umbians overdosed on illicit drugs. That number 
fell to 178 in 2003.

The most recent preliminary data from the coroner's office shows 69 fatal 
overdoses up to May 31 this year, 31 in Vancouver. In 2001, there were 154 
overdoses up to May 31, 61 in Vancouver.
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MAP posted-by: Beth