CHEAP HIGH A DOWNER

Girls Made Ill; Dealer Punished

Two 16-year-old girls thought they were going to get a cheap high when they
popped about a dozen Ritalin pills.

Instead, they ended up in hospital with racing hearts, and one was kept
overnight because her condition was so unstable.

Yesterday, the Charleswood teen who had given his Ritalin to the girls and
other friends pleaded guilty to trafficking in a prescription drug. In
return, provincial court Judge Howard Collerman scolded Corbin Radul, 18,
for stupidity and gave him a 15-month conditional sentence.

"I don't mean to offend you, but do you realize how stupid a decision that
was?" Collerman asked Radul. "What would you have done if one of those
girls had died? You would have had it on your conscience for the rest of
your life if one of your friends had lost their lives."

Diagnosed With Add

Radul's lawyer, David Joycey, told court his client had decided in February
2001 to stop taking Ritalin -- a drug he had been prescribed after being
diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

Radul continued to receive the prescription, however, and eight months
later had amassed a stockpile of about 120 tablets.

In October, Radul was one of a group of teens hanging out at the
Charleswood Drop In Centre.

Federal Crown attorney Erin Magas said Radul had his Ritalin stash with him
and gave 10 to 12 tablets each to six of his friends, thinking they would
get high. Radul also swallowed about a dozen pills.

Magas said a combination of Ritalin and Talwin, a prescription pain killer,
is known as "poor man's heroin," but Radul more than likely "didn't know
you needed the Talwin to achieve the high."

Although the Ritalin didn't make the girls high, it did cause their hearts
to begin beating rapidly. Both were taken by ambulance to Health Sciences
Centre.

Collerman imposed a seven-day curfew on Radul and ordered him to perform
125 hours of community service.

"I don't want to see you back here," the judge said.