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.
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