Pubdate: Wed, 07 Sep 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: Jack Keating, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

POLICE, HOSPITAL SAY AMPHETAMINE KILLED TEENAGER

Girl Buys Drug On Victoria Street, Suffers Reaction

A 13-year-old girl died last night after taking street drugs in Victoria on 
the weekend.

The girl and two friends consumed what they believed was ecstasy, which 
they bought in downtown Victoria on Saturday.

"Within the hour she started feeling unwell and violently sick and ended up 
in hospital Saturday night," said Victoria police Insp. Clark Russell.

Her two friends were not harmed.

"She died this evening directly as a result of taking an amphetamine," 
Karen Heimlich, spokeswoman for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said 
last night.

"And we want other people to know that it was an easily accessible drug. 
And [the parents] want other parents and young people to know about it. 
We're not sure if it was ecstasy or crystal meth."

Asked about reports that she died from an allergic reaction, Heimlich said: 
"She died directly as a result of taking an amphetamine, not because of an 
allergy to the drug, but directly as a result of taking the amphetamine.

"It's an amphetamine, we know that. It could be crystal meth. It could be 
ecstasy. We don't know that at this point."

The girl had been "critically ill on life support" in Victoria General 
Hospital until she succumbed.

She would have turned 14 in November.

Authorities are trying to find out what was in the deadly drug.

"One of our focuses is to track down the person who sold [the pills] to 
her," Russell said.

"It's important for the public to be aware that when you go out to purchase 
street drugs you have to recognize that you're running a risk, in terms 
that you take the person's word that it is what they say it is."

Anyone intent on using illegal drugs should use the buddy system, Russell 
said, although that didn't work in this case.

"Don't take them alone, and if you start to feel unwell, then seek medical 
attention sooner rather than later."

Said Dr. John Blatherwick, chief medical officer for the Vancouver Coastal 
Health Authority: "Nobody cares about quality control in street drugs."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman