Pubdate: Tue, 13 May 2008
Source: News-Journal (Mansfield, OH)
Copyright: 2008 News-Journal.
Contact: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2413
Author: Mark Caudill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

POLICE: FAKE ECSTASY TABLETS ENDANGERING LIVES IN MANSFIELD

MANSFIELD -- Local Ecstasy users could be taking their  lives in 
their hands because of fake samples.

"Not only are you not sure of what you're getting, but  what dose," 
METRICH Commander Lt. Dino Sgambellone  said. "It's like Russian 
roulette to me."

More and more local samples have proven to be fake and  have included 
such ingredients as meth and caffeine.  Other samples have had "two 
new drugs we've never seen  before," Mansfield police crime lab 
Director Tony  Tambasco said.

"Out of the last 10 samples, there's been only one that  had 
Ecstasy," he said. "They don't care what's in them.  They're making 
tablets (in clandestine labs) with  whatever dope they can find."

Ecstasy is a small, brightly colored pill. The tablets  are branded 
with a number of pictures, including  dolphins, apples and the Nike 
swoosh, as well as such  logos "CK" (Calvin Klein) and "MTV." Ecstasy 
commonly  is associated with raves, clubs and parties and often  is 
used by teenagers and young adults.

Users, who take it to keep dancing or for mood  enhancement, report 
intensely pleasurable effects such  as enhanced self-confidence and energy.

Ecstasy increases the heart rate and blood pressure and  can cause seizures.

Combined with the hot, crowded conditions of the clubs  or parties, 
Ecstasy can cause severe dehydration and  overheating. In severe 
cases, it can cause heart,  kidney or liver failure.

"Ecstasy in and of itself is dangerous," Sgambellone  said. "It's 
kind of a combination between a stimulant  and a psychedelic."

In the 10-county METRICH region, there has been a  188-percent 
increase in Ecstasy removals this year from  the same time span in 
2007. Tambasco said Mansfield had  a couple of cases from January to 
March and two in  April. There were five cases last week alone.

"It dried up after Sept. 11," Tambasco said, referring  to tighter 
border controls. "Now it's coming back."

Sgambellone said Ecstasy normally sells for $10 to $15  a pill. He 
wants to reach potential users before they  take it.

"For those kids who use Ecstasy on a regular basis,  they're willing 
to assume the risk," Sgambellone said.  "Those who are considering 
trying it, we just want them  to realize that you're not going to get 
what you think  you're getting."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom