Pubdate: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Florence Loyie TEENS ON LIFE SUPPORT AFTER TAKING DRUGS Girls Were Trying Ecstasy For First Time, Cousin Says Two teenage girls remain on life support after taking a drug they thought was ecstasy before a weekend community party on the Paul Band First Nation. Nine teenaged girls took the drug together on Saturday. Several hours later, three of them fell gravely ill and were rushed to an Edmonton hospital. Two girls, aged 14 and 15, were still on life support Monday evening at the Stollery Children's Hospital. A third girl had reportedly recovered. "It's pretty scary," said Kelsey House, 17, who is related to one of the girls still in hospital. "They took some E pills. It was the first time for them and three girls couldn't handle it -- they overdosed." It's not known where the girls took the drugs, but witnesses said two of them collapsed at a traditional wedding round dance at the Paul Band community hall. House said an ambulance was called to pick up her cousin at home. Before paramedics arrived, her cousin was vomiting and screaming that her head hurt. Then she began convulsing and lapsed into unconsciousness. House said she heard the drug the girls took may have been mixed with some kind of poison. RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said investigators were told that MDMA, called ecstasy on the streets, was found in the girls' bloodstreams, but they were not informed about any poison. "Investigators are attempting to speak with anyone who may have had contact with these youths prior to and during the time they became ill. The focus at this point is identifying what has contributed to the illness and if there is further risk of harm to others," Oakes said. On Monday, the Paul Band sent a six-member crisis unit of counsellors and therapists to schools west of Edmonton to meet with youth affected by the incident. Deanna Ledoux, a drug strategy consultant with the band, said friends of the girls attend schools throughout the Parkland County School District, in particular Stony Plain and Seba Beach. Members of the crisis unit were to "debrief" students about the incident. Dennis Paul, the band's special adviser, said people need to be aware that a dangerous drug is circulating the community. "The community is coming together in this time of crisis to support these youngsters and their families," Chief Daniel Paul said in a news release. The teens involved "are good students, good kids," he said. Band Coun. Dennis Bird, who is the grandfather to one of the girls on life support and an uncle to the other, said many in the community know who the local drug dealers are. People have to come forward with what they know to protect young people from drugs and alcohol. "The people responsible, if they had a soul, they might change their ways," Bird said. The Paul Band First Nation is west of Wabamun Lake, about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart