TOP DOC EXAMINING LEGALITY OF JIMSON WEED

After more than a dozen teens ended up at the hospital's emergency
room from a jimson weed overdose, the medical officer of health is
looking into whether the toxic plant can be made illegal.

"We want to make the minister (of Health and Long-Term Care) aware
and to figure out what can we do," said the Eastern Ontario Health
Unit's Dr. Paul Roumeliotis.

Over the past few weeks, staff at the Cornwall Community Hospital
have dealt with at least 15 cases of teenagers who ingested the
poisonous plant, which experts say has been known to cause
hallucinations, fevers, seizures and even brain damage or death.

One 14-year-old girl who overdosed on the plant ended up at the
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Saturday evening in a
borderline comatose state.

The problem with making the plant illegal is that it might lead to a
slippery slope in which other so-called toxic plants also become
banned substances, Roumeliotis countered.

"The kneejerk reaction is to make it illegal," he said. "But it's a
wild plant and how can you control it? It grows everywhere."

"Ideally, sure, we'd like to put it on the banned substance list, but
is it the only one?"

He pointed out he is not entirely sure of how one would go about
putting a substance on the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, but
said he will be speaking to health ministry officials more about the matter.

Jimson weed overdoses have also been reported in the London, Ont.,
and Niagara regions.

City police have said although the drug is not illegal, there could
be criminal charges, such as criminal negligence, if someone shares
it with another individual, knowing it could cause serious harm.

In the meantime, the health unit will be targeting high school
students and teenagers about the detrimental effects of the plant.

The health unit has issued a press release and advisory to all area
schools and intends to speak to students more about the deadly plant
upon request by education officials, Roumeliotis said.

Karine H,bert, the manager of communications with the Eastern Ontario
Health Unit (EOHU), said the agency is considering setting up a
program to visit local schools to educate youths about the dangers of
jimson weed. The health unit has already provided background info on
the plant to its staff members who visit schools on a regular basis
just in case questions about the plant come up.

The recent rise in jimson weed use among Cornwall teens became a
topic of discussion on a popular Ottawa talk show Wednesday.

During his morning show on 580 CFRA, veteran broadcaster Lowell Green
recounted reports that at least 15 teens have been taken to the
Cornwall Community Hospital - and some even admitted to the intensive
care unit - in recent weeks after consuming the poisonous plant.

Green said he had never heard of jimson weed, and he expressed alarm
about the dangers of the toxic plant after reading a newspaper report
of the outbreak in Cornwall.

"When you're admitted to intensive care, that means you're near
death, and they're still doing it. What's it going to take?," he
asked. "You would think . . . with that number of people (falling
ill), that the young people would smarten up and realize the danger here."

Later, Green added: "It's something obviously we've got to worry about."