EMS RAVING MAD OVER TRIO OF BAD ECSTASY TRIPS

A single dope pusher may be responsible for selling a drug that caused the
collapse of three people in one night and a city paramedic said he hopes
the dealer gets a bad bout of conscience.

"It's just a guess, but all (the collapses) happened near the same area
downtown and maybe came from the same dealer," said Emergency Medical
Services spokesman Mike Plato.

"If it was, I hope (the dealer) heard what happened and threw the rest away."

The drama began about 2:07 a.m. Friday when a 22-year-old man was found
unconscious at Victoria's Bar, 306 17 Ave. S.W., suffering an apparent
severe reaction to ecstasy.

Paramedics were called to the alley behind the Warehouse, 733 10 Ave. S.W.,
about a half-hour later where they found a semi-conscious 23-year-old man
who later admitted to taking ecstasy."

Later, paramedics were called out to the sidewalk outside the Detour bar,
318 17 Ave. S.W., where yet another man -- this one 21 -- was unconscious
from taking ecstasy.

"It's often considered a 'rave' drug and I think it's considered benign,"
said Plato.

Given the recent collapses, Plato said that's anything but true.

"People should be aware there are a lot of risks associated with it."