POLICE LAUNCH ECSTASY WEBSITE

Popular Street Drug Claims Young Life

It may be called ecstasy, but consequences of using the illegal party
drug can be anything but ecstatic.

"The prevalence of ecstasy is now being seen in all communities across
BC, including Powell River," said RCMP Constable Kerri Chard. "Just
months ago, Powell River RCMP were notified that a suspicious bag of
pills was found in a public location. Police seized the pills, which
are suspected to be ecstasy."

These particular tablets were bright orange, decorated with a logo
that may be attractive to some young people, featuring a picture of a
firearm.

"The drugs have been secured awaiting analysis," Chard said. "Police
wish to make the public aware that although this significant amount
did not make it to the streets, ecstasy is present in Powell River and
parents should be vigilant in helping protect their children."

RCMP's Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Service (DOCAS) launched
Project E-Aware, which is designed to increase awareness of the
harmful effects of ecstasy among Canadians. E-Aware provides factual
information on a new website designed to help parents inform
themselves of the dangers of the popular street drug.

Erin Spanevello's story forms the foundation of the information. She
was a healthy and happy young adult until she died from cardiac and
respiratory failure induced by a lethal dose of illegal recreational
drugs at the age of 21.

"Despite what many believe, ecstasy is far from being a safe or
recreational drug," said Inspector Dan Quirion, officer in charge of
the DOCAS program. "This illicit drug is made with a number of toxic
chemicals and can be lethal. There is no quality control, no dosage
control and there is no safe amount to take.

"By telling Erin's story through Project E-Aware, we hope to encourage
parents to learn about the dangers of ecstasy so that they will feel
comfortable speaking with their children about the drug."

Catherine Spanevello, Erin's mom, said she knew nothing about ecstasy
and now Erin is dead.

"Talk to your kids about drugs, their lives could depend on it," she
said. "As our children deal with the pressures of returning to school
and many move away from home for the first time, it is important that
parents inform themselves of the dangers of ecstasy before it's too
late."

Ecstasy, commonly known on the streets as E, is a bright and colourful
synthetic chemical drug normally ingested orally in pill form. Common
effects of ecstasy include a perceived increase in stimulation,
euphoria and pleasant emotions. Ecstasy is produced in Canada by
organized crime groups, and with a street value as low as $5 per
tablet, is easily affordable to youth.

For more information on the RCMP drug program, readers can visit
http://www.drugawareness.bc.rcmp.gc.ca.