Pubdate: Fri, 10 Feb 2012
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Brent Wittmeier

POLICE WARN PARTYGOERS OF ECSTASY DANGERS

Edmonton police are warning the public after four ecstasy-related
overdoses last month at an electronic music concert.

The non-fatal overdoses on Jan. 28 may have been linked to ecstasy
containing PMMA, but police are awaiting toxicology to identify the
chemicals. In light of several upcoming raves and similar events,
police are warning partygoers to be leery of the pills they might pop.

"You can't tell the difference between a capsule or a pill or a tablet
that is truly ecstasy as opposed to one that contains other chemicals
or additives like PMMA," said Det. Guy Pilon from the drug and gang
section. "There are a whole cornucopia of different chemicals and
drugs that are mixed together."

Paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) is cheaper than ecstasy (MDMA). With
a slower onset than MDMA, PMMA can lead to users to take more of the
drug than usual.

Ecstasy and PMMA can lead to death by causing high body temperatures
and organ failure.

Sgt. Nicole Chapdelaine, co-ordinator of the public safety compliance
team, said recent discussion of raves at city council have led
promoters to be more concerned for safety and co-operate with police.

"It got their attention; they were pretty close to losing these
events," Chapdelaine said.

"If you're going to do this, you're going to put yourself in jeopardy.
You're going to jeopardize the future of these events."

PMMA has been linked to at least a dozen ecstasy-related deaths in
Calgary, British Columbia and Red Deer. Police are awaiting toxicology
results of another Calgary case and those of a Nanton man who died
after a suspected overdose.

There are no confirmed PMMA-related deaths in Edmonton.

Preliminary toxicology results of the December death of a 38-year-old
Red Deer man showed the dominant drug in his system was PMMA. Police
suspect ecstasy as the cause of the May 2010 death of a 19-year-old
woman.

In 2009, there were several prominent ecstasy-related deaths in the
Edmonton area.
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