ECSTASY AGONY FOR BAR PARTYERS

Several Woman Treated For ODs

Several young women were sent to hospital, vomiting and in an altered state
of consciousness, after an apparent overdose of ecstasy in the early
morning hours yesterday.

Ottawa police launched an investigation after the women ended up together
in the emergency room following a night of partying at Byward Market bars.

Concerned city health officials issued a medical alert yesterday morning
out of concern that tainted drugs might have led to the overdoses.

By midday, however, the alert had been withdrawn after it was deemed
unnecessary.

"It was looking this morning like there might be something out there," said
Associate Medical Officer of Health Geoff Dunkley.

Further investigation revealed that a mixture of drugs and alcohol had
landed the individuals in hospital.

"It wasn't a single bad drug," Dunkley said.

RARE OCCURRENCE

Issuing a medical alert doesn't happen often and in retrospect, Dunkley
said, it was unnecessary. Worried officials erred on the side of caution
and moved to inform anyone else who might have been affected.

"We were quite concerned. Normally you would just wait," he said.

"But it's pretty clear (now) that each one had their own explanation and it
was just coincidence they came in the same time. It's turned out to be just
basically overindulgence."