DEALER CONVICTED

A recent conviction in provincial court has raised the spectre of Ecstasy
use in the Powell River area.

Bodie Kerton was charged with one count of possessing a controlled
substance, Ecstasy, for the purpose of trafficking, as well as possessing
marijuana.

Kerton was given a conditional sentence of 15 months.

Ecstasy is a synthetic, psychoactive [mind-altering] drug with
amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties.

RCMP Corporal Scott Rintoul, an expert in the club drug Ecstasy, testified
in court. He told The Peak the RCMP are getting reports right across the
province that Ecstasy is not confined to larger, urban centres. "It's the
drug of the millennium," he said.

Although its use is spreading, it is not a harmless drug, as is widely
believed. "It's a dangerous drug," Rintoul said. "It's a drug that we have
to put on the same pedestal as heroin and cocaine. It's that dangerous. A
single dose could kill you."

The trends that are happening in Canada and BC are the same trends being
observed world-wide, said Rintoul, who just returned from a conference in
the United States. "This drug is just massive. It's out there. We all agree
that enforcement has to be stepped up, but at the same time we have to do a
major education and awareness campaign to show that this is not just a drug
which is benign like some argue it is."

Taking Ecstasy affects two lower-brain transmitters. "It affects dopamine,
which is the transmitter that gives us euphoria, much like cocaine does. It
also affects a neuro-transmitter called serotonin."

Recent scientific studies point to evidence that the depletion of serotonin
could be permanent. "It indicates that in 20 years from now, we could have
many, many Ecstasy users who will be very depressed, because serotonin is
linked to depression."

Parents should be aware of raves, or all-night dance parties, where the
drug is prevalent.

However, he added, the police will support raves if they are at a venue
where promoters follow a strict policy and have excellent security on site.
"If we have an event like that, I think we can try and curtail the drug
use."

The recent case in Powell River involved the possession of 37 Ecstasy
capsules at a rave where there were approximately 250 youths. "No community
is immune from this drug. If anybody thinks that, they're very ignorant."

The sentence was justified and in line with sentencing guidelines set by
the Supreme Court of Canada: guidelines the RCMP support, Rintoul added.