RAVERS BEWARE: TRAIL MIX COULD KILL

Police are warning ravers and nightclubbers about a potentially deadly
chemical cocktail called trail mix.

The pills, according to RCMP Cpl. Scott Rintoul, are a blend of ingredients
including methamphetamine, ecstacy or MDMA, ketamine -- also known as
special K -- and the male sex-aid drug Viagra.

"Are we concerned? Very much so," said Rintoul, of the RCMP's Drug
Awareness Program. "We're seeing a real increase right now in chemical
cocktails.

"We are concerned first of the fact that methamphetamine is now increasing
in use not only by itself but also with other drugs, and the fact that
ketamine, which is a veterinary anesthetic, is also on the increase both by
itself and also with other drugs.

"Without a doubt we are in the middle of an epidemic of methamphetamine."

Rintoul said the RCMP tested 300 samples of drugs seized from nightclubs,
raves and the street this summer and only "about 18 per cent were pure
ecstasy."

The lab found "a real increase in ketamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy
which are your chemical cocktails."

Trail mix offers users a blend of buzzes. Some of the effects include
euphoria, energy and heightened sexual arousal. It costs $20 to $70 a tablet.

Rintoul said an ongoing five-year study has analyzed 171 samples of
chemical cocktails and found two per cent contained ketamine and caffeine,
six per cent ecstacy, ketamine and methamphetamine and 12 per cent MDMA,
ecstacy, methamphetamine and ketamine, while the remaining 80 per cent
contained other drugs.

Another study found that of ecstacy confiscated at Vancouver-area raves,
only 24 per cent of tablets and 11 per cent of capsules actually contained
pure E. MDMA and methamphetamine were the two most likely additives while
cocaine, caffeine, codeine and ephedrine were among other ingredients.

High doses of ecstacy can cause muscle breakdown or cardiovascular or
kidney failure. It's long-term effects are unknown. Methamphetamine, called
"speed" "meth" and "chalk" on the street, can cause respiratory problems
and even death.

Rintoul noted most people don't know which cocktail they are buying.

Vancouver Police Insp. Kash Heed said heroin also has begun showing up in
trail mix.

"There is some theory to support the fact that heroin is put in the MDMA to
increase the addiction to that drug," Heed said.

In November 2001, two people died from reportedly ingesting illicit rave drugs.