Warning partygoers about the dangers of the street drug ecstasy, Central Alberta AIDS Network Society NightReach Workers will be in city bars for seven nights.
On Thursday night, workers talked to patrons of the Red Deer College’s Far Side Bar and Grill about reducing the risks of overdosing, safe drug use and ecstasy.
The seven-day blitz wraps up on Feb. 8.
Earlier this week, preliminary toxicology results showed a 38-year-old Red Deer man’s death was linked to tainted ecstasy. His death was the latest in Alberta in several months linked to ecstasy laced with PMMA (paramethoxymethamphetamine). PMMA-laced ecstasy is five times more toxic than regular ecstasy and doesn’t kick in as quickly.
“I don’t think PMMA in ecstasy is a temporary issue,” said Jennifer Vanderschaeghe, CAANS executive director.
She said producers are cutting ecstasy with PMMA because it is cheaper to make.
Vanderschaeghe said the society doesn’t usually spend much time in the bar scene but felt this was a good opportunity to get out and have that conversation and try to save lives.
“We will give out condoms because that’s a good way to start,” she said. “Then we will have a conversation.”
Volunteers will wear condom sashes and hand out information cards. Most nights, they will be out from 8 p.m. to midnight. They hope to reach all the bars in the downtown core and in parts of south and north Red Deer.
“We are trying to blitz the agencies that may work with people who use ecstasy,” said Vanderschaeghe. “But also the youth-serving agencies and trying to get the word out about . . . if you’re going to use ecstasy, how to use it safely and basic safe drug messaging.”
Symptoms of an overdose may include difficulty breathing, nausea, muscle spasms, increased blood pressure and increased body temperature.
Calgary police and Alberta Health Services will team up to speak to students later this month about drugs in Calgary. A poison and drug expert will be on Twitter today at 11 a.m. for a live chat about the dangers of PMMA. Follow the #letstalkPMMA and #YouAreTheReason hashtags.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com