Pubdate: Sat, 04 Feb 2012
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 The Calgary Sun
Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.calgarysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Renato Gandia
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

FIGHT IS JOINED

Aldermen Pitch Campaign Against Deadly Drug

The recent spate of drug-related deaths has prompted city aldermen to 
call for public education targeting users and youth vulnerable to 
killer ecstasy.

Aldermen John Mar, Shane Keating and Dale Hodges want council to 
start a campaign against ecstasy with the help of the Calgary Police 
Service, Animal and Bylaw Services, and Alberta Health Services, 
among other agencies.

Mar said the recent Alberta ecstasy deaths are alarming with at least 
10 tied to the drug made with a particularly toxic compound that has 
been confirmed in Calgary, Red Deer and Nanton.

"There is an imminent crisis facing the community creating serious 
public health and safety concerns," he said.

Mar said despite significant reporting in the media on the deaths and 
injuries caused by the use of ecstasy, people continue to use it.

Seven people have died in Calgary since July and most of the deaths 
have been attributed to ecstasy made with paramethoxymethamphetamine, or PMMA.

The aldermen want bureaucrats to find partners for addictions 
education and an awareness campaign with a short-term focus on 
ecstasy and a longer-term focus on creating a sustainable drug 
prevention program.

They're suggesting that up to $150,000 be withdrawn from the Fiscal 
Stability Reserve to be used for the program.

City cops have stepped up their campaign against drugs with a new 
poster distributed at Calgary schools that compares the perils of 
ingesting drugs to eating a rotting sandwich.

Mar wants officials to go to bars, use social media and other means 
to reach the demographic that uses drugs.

Keating said more campaigning against the killer drug is needed.

"What we can do is go to these sites and see if we can find out where 
the source is and educate those who are using this drug for whatever 
reason," he said.

If approved by council next Monday, the aldermen want officials to 
make initial reports about their findings no later than June.
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