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Partygoers looking for a Halloween high need to be extra vigilant this weekend, Ottawa Public Health said Thursday in an unusual joint statement with Ottawa police and other emergency service providers.
The release warned that there has been an increase in reports of adulterated MDMA, a street drug more commonly known as Molly or ecstasy that now is being combined with “bath salts,” an emerging family of synthetic drugs that contain a strong stimulant. Bath salts have been linked to violent behaviour, psychotic episodes, paranoia and death.
There have also been incidents of a strain of “magic mushroom,” a plant that has naturally occurring psychedelic compounds, that causes unusually strong hallucinations.
This is the first time that Public Health, the Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa police and paramedics have teamed up to distribute a public service announcement. Nancy Langdon, a spokeswoman for the public health agency, said that they didn’t want to stigmatize drug use but rather tell people who may choose to use drugs to do so safely.
“We would much rather that people not overdose and that they get the health-related help that they need in a timely way,” she said.
Ottawa police spokesman Marc Soucy said the warning reflects the reality that people use illegal drugs and put themselves at risk.
“We’re just telling them to be careful and watch what you take, you never know what you’re taking,” said Soucy.
A bag of what police say is MDMA, seized in a raid on a covert laboratory in Montague, near Smiths Falls, in June.
The main ingredient in MDMA is methamphetamine, but the potency and ingredients of each pill — even if not adulterated with bath salts — are always unknown. This makes treatment difficult.
“There is no one magic antidote to reverse these overdoses,” said Deanna Schofield, acting superintendent of Ottawa Paramedic Service.
Numbers from the paramedic service show that calls for drug and alcohol-related overdoses on Halloween almost tripled from 2013 to 2014, to 63 calls from 24. Schofield said there could be a further increase this year because Halloween falls on a Saturday, and the weather is supposed to be warmer.
Reports of violence and sexual assault also increase on Halloween. Soucy said that the large number of parties and events can multiply these events, and costumed revellers can make the most of their anonymity.
In October 2014, the teen party Spookland at Mont Cascades Ski Resort in Quebec got wide attention after nine students were rushed to hospital with alcohol and drug poisoning and others reported being sexually assaulted. Police found one 16-year-old girl drugged and partially dressed.
The event promoter, Jason Antoine, said Thursday that he has no plans to revive the event.
khenderson@ottawacitizen.com
Tips to party safe
• Don’t mix drugs and alcohol.
• Have a plan with your friends to stay safe.
• Remember to eat and stay hydrated.
• Avoid using drugs. If you choose to do so, remember where you got them and who gave them to you in case there are problems.
• Find a designated driver, and if you’re walking, be visible and follow road safety rules.
• If you feel threatened or sick, ask someone you know for help.
• Call 911 if someone is acting strangely, can’t walk or is unconscious.
Source: Ottawa Public Health and partner agencies
查看原文...
The release warned that there has been an increase in reports of adulterated MDMA, a street drug more commonly known as Molly or ecstasy that now is being combined with “bath salts,” an emerging family of synthetic drugs that contain a strong stimulant. Bath salts have been linked to violent behaviour, psychotic episodes, paranoia and death.
There have also been incidents of a strain of “magic mushroom,” a plant that has naturally occurring psychedelic compounds, that causes unusually strong hallucinations.
This is the first time that Public Health, the Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa police and paramedics have teamed up to distribute a public service announcement. Nancy Langdon, a spokeswoman for the public health agency, said that they didn’t want to stigmatize drug use but rather tell people who may choose to use drugs to do so safely.
“We would much rather that people not overdose and that they get the health-related help that they need in a timely way,” she said.
Ottawa police spokesman Marc Soucy said the warning reflects the reality that people use illegal drugs and put themselves at risk.
“We’re just telling them to be careful and watch what you take, you never know what you’re taking,” said Soucy.
A bag of what police say is MDMA, seized in a raid on a covert laboratory in Montague, near Smiths Falls, in June.
The main ingredient in MDMA is methamphetamine, but the potency and ingredients of each pill — even if not adulterated with bath salts — are always unknown. This makes treatment difficult.
“There is no one magic antidote to reverse these overdoses,” said Deanna Schofield, acting superintendent of Ottawa Paramedic Service.
Numbers from the paramedic service show that calls for drug and alcohol-related overdoses on Halloween almost tripled from 2013 to 2014, to 63 calls from 24. Schofield said there could be a further increase this year because Halloween falls on a Saturday, and the weather is supposed to be warmer.
Reports of violence and sexual assault also increase on Halloween. Soucy said that the large number of parties and events can multiply these events, and costumed revellers can make the most of their anonymity.
In October 2014, the teen party Spookland at Mont Cascades Ski Resort in Quebec got wide attention after nine students were rushed to hospital with alcohol and drug poisoning and others reported being sexually assaulted. Police found one 16-year-old girl drugged and partially dressed.
The event promoter, Jason Antoine, said Thursday that he has no plans to revive the event.
khenderson@ottawacitizen.com
Tips to party safe
• Don’t mix drugs and alcohol.
• Have a plan with your friends to stay safe.
• Remember to eat and stay hydrated.
• Avoid using drugs. If you choose to do so, remember where you got them and who gave them to you in case there are problems.
• Find a designated driver, and if you’re walking, be visible and follow road safety rules.
• If you feel threatened or sick, ask someone you know for help.
• Call 911 if someone is acting strangely, can’t walk or is unconscious.
Source: Ottawa Public Health and partner agencies
查看原文...
