Burns Lake Seeing Rise in Ecstasy
By 250 News
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 03:53 AM
Burns Lake, B.C. – Burns Lake is no stranger to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse, but RCMP have noticed a disturbing trend not seen for a few years.
Police say since the return of school, officers have been noticing more and more of the drug Ecstasy showing up in the community. Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that possesses stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Staff Sergeant Mike Kisters with the Burns Lake RCMP says the increasing frequency of the drug’s presence and the start of a new school year are no coincidence.
“It’s an issue here....we noticed a little bit of it a couple years ago and then it stopped. Now we’re noticing it that now that school’s back in again it seems to be coming back to the street level again. The dealers are specifically targeting our youth.”
RCMP found a youth passed out at a Burns Lake business Saturday in possession of both marijuana and pills believed to be ecstasy. Earlier this month, police arrested a 27 year old man suspected of drug dealing. Police seized 20 pills believed to be Ecstasy. The pills were pale green with a Greek letter on them.
Kisters is asking for help from students, parents, and community members to clamp down on the people selling all kinds of illegal drugs in the community. He says people that buy drugs, especially Ecstasy, never really know just what they’re getting and the consequences can be deadly.
Here are a few Ecstasy facts offered by the RCMP:
What Is Ecstasy?MDMA or ecstasy is a schedule I synthetic, psychoactive drug possessing stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. MDMA possesses chemical variations of the stimulant amphetamine or methamphetamine and a hallucinogen, most often mescaline.
MDMA, called "Adam," "ecstasy," or "XTC" on the street, is a synthetic, psychoactive (mind-altering) drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are known to cause brain damage.
Street Names
XTC, Adam, Clarity, Lover's Speed, Hug, Beans, Love Drug
Health Hazards
Many of the risks users face with MDMA use are similar to those found with the use of amphetamines and cocaine. They include:
Psychological difficulties, including confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and paranoia - during and sometimes weeks after taking MDMA (even psychotic episodes have been reported). Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, and chills or sweating.
Short-term Effects of Ecstasy Abuse
While it is not as addictive as heroin or cocaine, ecstasy can cause other adverse effects including nausea, hallucinations, chills, sweating, increases in body temperature, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. Ecstasy users also report after-effects of anxiety, paranoia, and depression.
An ecstasy overdose is characterized by high blood pressure, faintness, panic attacks, and, in more severe cases, loss of consciousness, seizures, and a drastic rise in body temperature. Ecstasy overdoses can be fatal, as they may result in heart failure or extreme heat stroke.
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Posted by: JamesToney on September 21 2010 9:45 AM