TEENS ON LIFE SUPPORT AFTER TAKING DRUGS

Girls Were Trying Ecstasy For First Time, Cousin Says

Two teenage girls remain on life support after taking a drug they
thought was ecstasy before a weekend community party on the Paul Band
First Nation.

Nine teenaged girls took the drug together on Saturday. Several hours
later, three of them fell gravely ill and were rushed to an Edmonton hospital.

Two girls, aged 14 and 15, were still on life support Monday evening
at the Stollery Children's Hospital. A third girl had reportedly recovered.

"It's pretty scary," said Kelsey House, 17, who is related to one of
the girls still in hospital.

"They took some E pills. It was the first time for them and three
girls couldn't handle it -- they overdosed."

It's not known where the girls took the drugs, but witnesses said two
of them collapsed at a traditional wedding round dance at the Paul
Band community hall. House said an ambulance was called to pick up
her cousin at home.

Before paramedics arrived, her cousin was vomiting and screaming that
her head hurt. Then she began convulsing and lapsed into unconsciousness.

House said she heard the drug the girls took may have been mixed with
some kind of poison.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said investigators were told that
MDMA, called ecstasy on the streets, was found in the girls'
bloodstreams, but they were not informed about any poison.

"Investigators are attempting to speak with anyone who may have had
contact with these youths prior to and during the time they became
ill. The focus at this point is identifying what has contributed to
the illness and if there is further risk of harm to others," Oakes said.

On Monday, the Paul Band sent a six-member crisis unit of counsellors
and therapists to schools west of Edmonton to meet with youth
affected by the incident.

Deanna Ledoux, a drug strategy consultant with the band, said friends
of the girls attend schools throughout the Parkland County School
District, in particular Stony Plain and Seba Beach. Members of the
crisis unit were to "debrief" students about the incident.

Dennis Paul, the band's special adviser, said people need to be aware
that a dangerous drug is circulating the community.

"The community is coming together in this time of crisis to support
these youngsters and their families," Chief Daniel Paul said in a news release.

The teens involved "are good students, good kids," he said.

Band Coun. Dennis Bird, who is the grandfather to one of the girls on
life support and an uncle to the other, said many in the community
know who the local drug dealers are. People have to come forward with
what they know to protect young people from drugs and alcohol.

"The people responsible, if they had a soul, they might change their
ways," Bird said.

The Paul Band First Nation is west of Wabamun Lake, about 80
kilometres west of Edmonton.