A seventh death is reported from tainted ecstasy in the Calgary area.
Test results reveal a young man found dead earlier this month had the toxic additive paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) in his system.
Investigators are waiting for toxicology reports on two women found in a downtown hotel on Saturday suffering apparent drug overdoses.
Police say they've received numerous tips but there's not enough for the drug unit to narrow down a source or dealer of the tainted drug.
Here's a look at what you need to know about ecstasy:
- Ecstasy is a synthetic, mind-altering, chemical drug usually ingested orally in the form of a tablet or capsule
- Pills are often different colours, and are often stamped with logos
- Ecstasy is sold on the streets of B.C. and in clubs and at raves for as little as $5 per tablet
- Slang for ecstasy include E, Love Drug, Thizz, X, Adam, XTC, Clarity, Euphoria, Caps, Hug Drug
- A typical dose is 70-110 mg, and effects last for 2-6 hours
- A 2007 analysis commissioned by the RCMP and Health Canada found that 72% of ecstasy seized in B.C. contained methamphetamine
- Initially, the drug creates feelings of euphoria, pleasure, energy, confidence and heightened senses
- Adverse effects include confusion, depression, anxiety and increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Chronic use may result in weight loss, exhaustion, clinical depression, psychosis and organ damage
- An often overlooked consequence of ecstasy is tooth damage, due to jaw clenching and grinding of the teeth
- The drug also causes dehydration, which can lead to serious heart and kidney problems, and in rare cases, death
According to a Global News access to information request filed with the CBSA, between January 1, 2005 and July 12, 2011, Canada Border Services officers made 266 seizures of ecstasy, worth $15,647,283.
There were more seizures in B.C. (CBSA’s Pacific region) than in the rest of Canada combined. The next-highest region, Southern Ontario, had only 89 seizures of ecstasy.
© Shaw Media Inc., 2012. All rights reserved.