ECSTASY SUSPECTED IN TEEN'S DEATH

.C. Coroners Service to Investigate What Could Be Drug's Third Victim for 2012

Kato Burgess, a 16-year-old Langley teen, may be the latest in a rash
of ecstasy-related deaths.

The B.C . Coroners Service announced Monday it is investigating the
death of the teen as being potentially related to the use of ecstasy.

On Saturday night, Kato reportedly took ecstasy along with other
pharmaceuticals. He collapsed in the early morning hours of Sunday,
was raced to Langley Memorial Hospital, but could not be revived.

Last week, the B.C. Coroners Ser-vice announced that ecstasy tainted
with PMMA was linked to five ecstasy-related deaths in B.C. in the
past six months, along with several PMMA-linked deaths in Alberta.

B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said this latest death shows that
any-one taking ecstasy is at risk, since there is no way of tracing
where the unregulated drug came from.

"It's very scary," Lapointe told The Province. "Three people have
already died this year - don't take this stuff."

Kato attended Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Surrey.

A Facebook site, entitled "In Loving Memory of Kato Burgess," quickly
sprang up - with tributes as well as warnings to not follow in the
dead teen's footsteps.

"This is a hard thing for all of us," wrote Sarah Koi on the Facebook memorial.

"Kato had a lot going for him, but his life was cut short. Please, you
all have so much ahead of you. If you truly want to honour, 'in loving
memory of Kato Burgess' - then think twice about what you do.

"Choose your friends wisely. Follow your gut. Never say, 'It won't
happen to me.' He was worth so much more than a $5 pill."

Ninety-nine B.C. deaths have been linked to ecstasy in the past six years.

In 2011 alone, 16 deaths were linked to ecstasy, including three
tainted with PMMA.

The year 2012 has proven to be especially deadly, with three ecstasy
deaths already - two linked to PMMA - and now the Langley teen's death.

"It's terribly sad," said Lapointe. "The challenge is, people take
ecstasy, or know people who take ecstasy, who have no ill effects.

"It's a designer drug that's created by somebody, maybe using a recipe
off the Internet. We don't even know if they're putting in the PMMA by
mistake."

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall said skeptical teens may
not believe that ecstasy can kill - but they should face facts.

"The evidence is there right in front of us," said Kendall.

Kendall said teens are bombarded with messages that drugs are bad and
can kill you, but right now they should really be taking that message to heart.

"We have to put out the message in a believable way," he said. "It
takes something horrible to happen."