In late December, two Sunshine Coast residents were treated in hospital for significant reactions to ingesting what they believed to be ecstasy. Several other incidents involving ecstasy overdoses have been reported throughout the Lower Mainland, including one death.
Sunshine Coast RCMP are cautioning residents about the dangers of using any illegal drug but specifically those like ecstasy (chemical name MDMA), which are synthetic chemical cocktails. Ecstasy, whether in pill or powder form, is in almost all cases a cocktail mix of MDMA and other drugs such as methamphetamine, ketamine, LSD or PCP. ??
Ecstasy is one of the region's most used recreational drugs and is especially popular among teens and young adults. Health Canada reports that in addition to paranoia and hallucinations, there is a real risk that ecstasy usage can raise body temperature as well as increase blood pressure and heart rate to levels that can lead to kidney or heart failure, strokes and seizures.
Anyone with information on persons trafficking ecstasy is asked to contact Corporal Don Newman of the Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266 or BC Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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