IT'S BUYER BEWARE IN ECSTASY MARKET

The so-called "designer drug" ecstasy is easy to find in Ottawa, but
sometimes what teens pay for isn't what they get.

Autopsy results in the death of Tina Abbenda are expected today. Police are
studying a blood sample for various substances to see what role they played.
Ecstasy is one of possibilities.

Louise Logue, Ottawa police youth intervention co-ordinator, said dealers
peddling the illicit party drug are sometimes passing off much more
dangerous substances such as PCP -- even unwittingly. "The dealers are
selling stuff they don't know is real or not and the kids don't know,
especially the first-time users," she said.

14 DEATHS

In the past three years, 14 people have died in Ontario from ecstasy use and
other deaths are believed to be connected with the drug. The victims have
all been healthy and under 30.

While ecstasy provides users with a happy, euphoric feeling, PCP can trigger
aggressive, unpredictable behaviour and cause severe hallucinations and
convulsions.

Even if the user gets the real thing, ecstasy can react differently,
depending on the person and dose. Logue said 25% of users experience
paranoia or depression, while some have convulsions.

She said the tablets are relatively easy to buy, costing $20-$30.