MOST ECSTASY SOLD TO TEENAGERS CONTAINS METH

The 2005 results are in on the analysis of ecstasy tablets seized by
police. Methamphetamine has been found in 76 per cent of the pills
seized at raves, clubs and dances.

Of the 137 tablets tested by Health Canada labs, 125 contained MDMA
or ecstasy. Of those 125, 95 tested positive for meth. This is no
mistake that we are finding meth in ecstasy tablets.

The illegal manufacturer of these tablets are trying to develop a new
generation of user. Meth's promise of energy and invigoration is
what's drawing this new user to the speedy ecstasy.

This slippery slope were on now will find regular ecstasy user
building up dangerous addictions to meth without even knowing it.

Dr. Bill Mac Ewan, a psychiatrist at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver
who works extensively with people suffering from drug-induced
psychosis and mental illness, says patients occasionally arrive at
the hospital with all the tell-tale symptoms of meth abuse: anxiety,
psychosis and hallucinations but insist they have never used meth -
only ecstasy.

One of the key conclusions is that ecstasy users who wind up in
mental trouble are consuming methamphetamine without knowing it.

It is important for the RCMP's drug awareness unit to complete this
analysis every year because the ecstasy user needs to be aware that
they may not be consuming just MDMA. Other products other than meth
that are found in tablets being sold as ecstasy include: caffeine (47
per cent), ephedrine (16 per cent) and ketamine (2 per cent).

This result is alarming and can have deadly consequences.

In September, a 13-year-old girl bought what she believed to be
ecstasy from a street dealer in downtown Victoria. The girl was
gambling with her life. She had no idea what was in the tablet. This
choice had a tragic ending when the girl died as a result of a
suspected amphetamine overdose.

Const. Beth Blackburn is with the Nanaimo RCMP's drugs and organized
crime awareness unit. Beth Blackburn RCMP