Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2012
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Mike Youds

LEGALIZING ECSTASY NOT SEEN AS SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

Kamloops addictions counsellor reacts to suggestion it is safe in pure
form

Legalizing ecstasy wouldn't eliminate the danger of its use or its
distribution on the black market, says a local addictions counsellor.

Dr. Perry Kendall, chief provincial health officer, ignited
controversy Wednesday by stating that pure ecstasy can be safe and
suggesting that it should be sold through licensed, government-run
stores.

Kendall said legalizing the drug would prevent lethal doses resulting
from impurities introduced by criminals who cook it up. Usage rates
would also decline, he said.

Patrick McDonald, program supervisor with the Phoenix Centre, was
surprised by Kendall's comments, although he understands the
rationale. Pure substances, heroin included, have been used over the
years as painkillers.

"Not to dispute his point of view, I'm just saying we seem to be
holding up legalization and distribution as solutions to our woes."

Alcohol is sold in government stores, but that doesn't prevent the
damage it causes society through its abuse.

"We regulate alcohol as well and still have a lot of related danger.
Can we rely on people to safely use substances? I don't think so."

Kendall was reacting to a spate of fatalities caused by impure
ecstasy, cut with a toxin called PMMA. At least 16 people have died in
Western Canada in the past year as a result of the tainted drug. On
average, 20 B.C. residents die from street ecstasy each year. Far more
people die from consuming alcohol, Mcdonald noted. Tobacco kills one
out of every two smokers.

The risk of a leading public figure suggesting pure ecstasy is safe is
that it may be interpreted as sanctioning or encouraging its use.

"There will be people who take it as an endorsement."

McDonald agrees with police who suggest that they need to look at
different ways of dealing with the problem.

Sgt. Grant Learned of Kamloops RCMP said ecstasy use here isn't
considered a high priority for law enforcement.

"It is a drug seen here, but not one that routinely pops up in the
crosshairs of our drug unit," Learned said.

Typically, ecstasy is found in the execution of warrants in search of
other drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and Oxycontin, the
over-the-counter painkiller recently pulled from store shelves in Canada.

However, Learned said that doesn't mean local streets are safe from
tainted ecstasy.

"Killler ecstasy could surface in any community at any time."
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MAP posted-by: Matt