TEEN'S DEATH EXAMINED AFTER CANDYLIKE ECSTASY USED

A 15-year-old Durham Region girl has died after taking the street drug ecstasy.

Teresa Brewer, of Ajax, collapsed in a local Zellers while shopping
with friends on July 15. Emergency personnel rushed her to Ajax
hospital and then to the Hospital for Sick Children where she never
emerged from a coma.

With her family at her side, she died last Wednesday.

Durham Region police Det. Tom Andrews said an investigation is
underway to find out where the girl acquired the pills also known as
the "love drug."

Brewer is the fifth young southern Ontario resident to die since 1999
after ingesting what some consider a "recreational drug."

"This was a very tragic situation that happened to a young lady with
her whole life ahead of her," Andrews said.

Early investigation showed the pill Brewer ingested was yellow and
stamped with musical notes to make it look like candy.

"We are treating this as a criminal investigation and are seeking
help from the public in identifying those who are putting these drugs
in the hands of young people," Andrews said.

He said the candylike appearance of the pills could mislead some
young people into thinking they are harmless when, in fact, ecstasy
can be deadly.