ECSTASY WARNINGS CONTINUE

Abbotsford Police are continuing to warn people about the dangers of
using any form of illicit drugs, in the wake of toxicology results
released from one ecstasy-related death in the Lower Mainland and
five in Calgary.

Provincial health officer Perry Kendall confirmed in a media
teleconference today (Thursday) that one of the four recent B.C.
deaths two in Abbotsford and two in Vancouver occurred because
the drug was tainted by a lethal chemical known as
paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA).

He did not indicate which one of the individuals he was referring to.

Kendall's comments come after toxicology results released Wednesday
from the five Calgary deaths showed that PMMA was present in all the
victims. Kendall said 16 ecstasy-related deaths in B.C. from 2011
will also be examined to see if the chemical was present.

According to a press release issued Wednesday by Calgary Police
Service, PMMA is thought to be a less expensive compound used to make
a drug similar in appearance and sold on the street as ecstasy.

Ecstasy (MDMA) and meth were also found in the Calgary toxicology results.

Dr. Mark Yarema, medical director of the Poison and Drug Information
Service, said PMMA is considered more toxic than MDMA, with a higher
incidence of seizures and elevated body temperature.

The effects can take longer and the results can initially be milder, he said.

"This is dangerous as it may result in users ingesting several
tablets to achieve a desired effect, with potentially fatal consequences."

Police in both Calgary and Abbotsford are using the results as a
message that there is no guarantee of what people are getting when
they use an illegal drug.

"To me, it's just a risk that people shouldn't be taking right
now or at any time ... You don't know what's in it (the drug) and
you don't know what it will do to your body," said Abbotsford Police
Const. Ian MacDonald.

Staff Sgt. Mike Bossley of Calgary Police Service's drug unit said
these deaths are a "prime example" of what can happen when people
gamble with drugs.

"You never know what is in your drug: yesterday it was MDMA, today's
it PMMA and tomorrow it could be something else. There is no safe
street drug, and no safe dose of a street drug."

There have been three recent ecstasy-related incidents involving
Abbotsford people.

Tyler Miller, 20, died Nov. 27 after taking ecstasy recreationally
with friends. Cheryl McCormack, 17, passed away on Dec. 22 three
days after ingesting ecstasy at a sleepover with friends who were
using the drug to aid in weight loss.

And a 24-year-old woman is recovering in intensive care after taking
several ecstasy pills on New Year's Eve.

Two women from Vancouver, both 22, have also died in recent weeks.