A rash of recent overdose deaths in the province, coupled with a warning issued last week by provincial medical officials, has prompted Sundre RCMP to remind residents of the dangers of illicit drug use.
ìWe've definitely been speaking to the users in the community and the other potential drug users that any time you are going to partake in using illicit drugs there is a chance that you could be consuming harmful chemicals that would put your health in harm's way,î said Sundre RCMP Cpl. Ryan Hodge.
ìYou don't know what you are getting, especially when it comes to ecstasy and methamphetamines, and that's the big truth. And even marijuana is laced with all sorts of chemicals and pesticides that growers use.î
Although ecstasy and methamphetamine are not common in the Sundre area, those drugs are seen here from time to time, he said.
Dr. Mark Yarema, Alberta's medical director for the Poison and Drug Information Service, reportedly issued a warning last week following a number of overdose deaths from the street drug ecstasy laced with a lethal chemical called paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA).
ìWhat we're finding in this case is that people were getting something very different than what they thought they were,î said Dr. Yarema.
Toxicology tests on five recent overdose victims in Alberta showed the presence of PMMA. In each case, the victims mistakenly thought they were taking ecstasy, he said.
In other news, Sundre RCMP are asking for public tips after a number of metal brake shoes were stolen from
Sometime between the evening of Dec. 28 and the morning of Dec. 29, someone stole a large quantity of used brake shoes worth about $2,000, said Const. Val Dennis.
ìPolice suggest if someone is approached by someone requesting to remove scrap metal from your business please ask for and keep a record of that person's contact information,î said Dennis.
