Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2007
Source: Saanich News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Saanich News
Contact:  http://www.saanichnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209
Author: Brennan Clarke
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

BAD DRUGS ON THE STREET

A spike in drug overdoses and erratic, violent behaviour downtown has 
police worried that bad batches of drugs are making the rounds on 
Victoria's streets.

"We're seeing an increase in drug overdoses and severe drug reactions 
resulting in some violent behaviour," said Victoria Police Sgt. Grant Hamilton.

"We're finding that we have to physically restrain people like we do 
with excited delirium. They're screaming, they're yelling, they're 
grunting... the guys are describing it as animalistic behaviour."

Hamilton said one of the department's patrol shifts attended 15 such 
calls over a three-day period last week.

Police suspect heroin cut with either ketamine or powdered methadone 
is causing severe reactions in some users.

Known on the street as "Special K," ketamine is a tranquilizer first 
used in the battle fields of Vietnam. Over the years it has been 
widely used by veterinarians as a surgical anesthetic, but has also 
been used recreationally since the late '70s.

In recent years its popularity has grown in the "rave" scene.

Although both heroin and ketamine are depressants, Hamilton said the 
combination of the two can trigger violent and irrational behaviour 
in heroin addicts who are normally docile while under the influence.

In addition to its tranquilizing effect, ketamine use can result in 
"profound hallucinations" and a "lost sense of time and reality" 
sometimes referred to as the "K-hole," Hamilton said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman