ECSTASY LINKED TO DEATHS

RCMP in the Shuswap community of Chase have issued a warning about a
deadly batch of ecstasy following the deaths of two men, and the
hospitalization of two women as a result of taking the drug.

Police and paramedics responded to a home on the Little Shuswap Lake
Reserve at 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 for a report of a drug overdose. A
19-year-old male was taken to hospital and put on life support. He
died two days later. Police state the male had been taking ecstasy
and marijuana.

More than three hours later, emergency personnel were called to a
home on the Adams Lake Reserve for another drug overdose complaint. A
51-year-old male was unable to be revived, and was pronounced dead at
the scene.

While at the home, the victim's girlfriend became ill and was taken
to hospital for an apparent drug overdose.

On Jan. 7, a 20-year-old woman overdosed and was taken to hospital.

All four victims are believed to have taken ecstasy, an illegal
synthetic drug which acts as a hallucinogen and stimulant, prior to
their overdose.

"We are currently working trying to track down the source of the
ecstasy," said Chase RCMP Cpl. Mike Draper. "Although these four
incidents are limited to the Chase area, it should be assumed that
this batch of ecstasy may have been distributed to other areas of the
province."

Draper added that drug users need to be aware that it is always
dangerous to take synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine.