ECSTASY THREATENING PENANG CHINESE

PENANG: The state's future Chinese generation may be wiped out as some 97%
of Ecstasy abusers here are from the Chinese community.

National Narcotics Agency director-general Datuk Salleh Mat Som warned
yesterday that the future generation would face a host of health problems
arising from Ecstasy, including damage to the brain.

"This is a dire reminder because 97.1% of Ecstasy abusers are from the
Chinese community in Penang,'' he said at a dialogue with about 300
representatives of entertainment outlet operators.

Citing figures compiled till Thursday, Salleh said 60% of Ecstasy abusers
in the state were aged between 21 and 35. Of this, 34.29% had taken the
pill more than once.

He said 80% were below 40 and mostly from the middle class.

"The pill, priced at RM80 each several months ago, is only about RM30 now
because of adulteration, enabling it to be affordable to more people,'' he
said.

He said rat poison, crushed bulbs, and even cement had been mixed with
amphetamine to get a "higher'' feeling.

"A small trace of rat poison can cause the blood to thin, enabling
amphetamine to reach even quicker to the brain.

"The crushed bulbs cause raptures in the stomach, enabling it to absorb
amphetamine even better,'' he said.

Salleh said three Japanese consultants engaged by the agency confirmed that
Ecstasy could cause brain damage.