YOUTHS SICK AFTER INGESTING MORPHINE

As Many As 15 Hospitalized After House Party In Nipawin

Fifteen youths -- ranging in age from 11 to 15 -- were taken to hospital
after taking morphine pills Tuesday night at a house party in the town of
Nipawin.

RCMP Cpl. Brian Jones said Wednesday he didn't know how many pills the kids
took, but "some of the people were very sick.

"I don't know how many youths were at the gathering in the home, and I
don't know how many took the pills, but I know that 15 were sick and taken
to hospital," he said.

Jones said the pills were in the Nipawin home "as part of a proper medical
prescription.

"They had been issued to a person who owned the home, so they weren't in
the home illegally. It wasn't a case that they had been stolen and taken to
the residence," he said.

Jones would not say whether the homeowner was in the hospital, citing
patient privacy concerns. The homeowner was not home at the time of the party.

Witnesses say the owner's two adolescent daughters were at the party, and
were among the youths taken to Nipawin Hospital.

"There were a couple that were very seriously ill . . . and beyond that I
don't know how many remained in hospital," he said.

Jones said he wasn't sure if the youths were passing out or vomiting.

"I'm not up-to-date on what the possible effects of a morphine overdose
(are). They were just seriously sick. I can tell (you) that 15 were taken
to Nipawin (hospital), and then they were transferred to area hospitals."

Jones said he didn't know if there was drinking or other drugs at the
gathering.

There were likely no adults in the home at the time the youths took the
tablets, according to RCMP.

Jones said RCMP in Nipawin were contacted about the incident just before
noon Wednesday.

"The RCMP is investigating . . . At this stage, we don't know that there's
any charges that are being considered," he said.

"But the investigation is continuing. We'll look into all aspects of it."

Gordon Denton, CEO of Regional Health Authority No. 8, confirmed Wednesday
that 15 youths were taken to hospital, but would not comment on their
conditions.

Dr. Oksana Yatsina, a Nipawin doctor who assessed the patients, said she
could not provide any "absolute information" about the youths' condition
Wednesday.

"I just can tell you most of the patients have been transferred. They are
not in Nipawin. They have been transferred to different places -- Tisdale,
Melfort. They have been transferred to different hospitals," she said.

"Everyone is alive, everything is stable. But the patients were transferred."

Jan Heibert, assistant supervisor with MD Ambulance, said one patient was
transferred to Saskatoon by air.