DRUGS DEATH AT XMAS PARTY

A young North-east man died on Christmas Day after he is believed to have
taken ecstasy at a party.

Grampian Police today confirmed Craig Rennie, 23, of Ellon, was the region's
latest suspected drugs victim.

Drug deaths in the North-east will reach a tragic record of 31 if a post
mortem examination confirms Mr Rennie died as a result of taking the drug.

The forklift operator's family were being comforted at their home in Ellon's
Coopers Court and were today too upset to speak.

The post mortem examination on Mr Rennie, a former chef, will be carried out
over the next two weeks.

Inspector Les Johnston, of Grampian Police drugs liaison team, confirmed:
"The death is being treated as a suspected drugs death. "Mr Rennie had been
out with friends on Christmas Eve and was found to be dead in the morning at
a friend's house.

"We are awaiting post mortem results before it can be confirmed it was drug
related. "Toxicology tests have to be carried out and it could take some
time because of the time of year."

Insp Johston said there had been 30 confirmed drug-related tragedies in the
area so far this year - working out as one death every 12 days. "If this one
is confirmed it will break the 1996 record of 30 deaths. "The number of
deaths in the region have been steady at around the 30 mark, but this is
still too many."

The average age of a 1999 drug death victim has been 29. Since 1994, 135
people have died across the Grampian Police force area. Last year there were
27 deaths recorded, and in the previous year 28 lost their lives. The
numbers have risen dramatically since 1994 and 1995, when nine and 15 people
died of drug overdoses respectively.