Ecstasy suspected in rave party death

19-year-old man collapses at West Edmonton Mall event

Publication title: Edmonton Journal
First page: A.1
Publication date: Oct 13, 2009
Author: Fong, Jennifer; Loyie, Florence

Ecstasy is believed to be behind the death of a 19-year-old rave patron who collapsed early Monday during an all-night party at West Edmonton Mall.

The male victim, a partier at the Frost 2009 rave at the Edmonton Event Centre, was taken to hospital by paramedics about 4 a. m. He died a couple of hours later, police information officer Dean Parthenis said.

The man is suspected to have taken ecstasy. Three friends of the victim -- two men and a woman, all in their 20s--were also treated for suspected ecstasy ingestion and later released.

Kalum Giroux, who was at the party, said there were nearly 3,000 people at the rave. "It was one big party. Everyone was dancing and partying to the world's No. 1 DJs."

Giroux said he didn't know there had been a death until hours after the rave ended.

While he doesn't touch ecstasy "because I know what it can do to you," the drug is typically part of the rave scene, Giroux said.

"I know it keeps you up all night and it makes you hyper," he said.

Frost 2009 was a licensed, all-night party that started at 9 p. m. Sunday and went until 6 a. m. Monday. It featured more than a dozen DJs and required all patrons to wear white clothing as part of the "frost" theme. No one under 18 was admitted to the event, which was promoted by Boodang Music Canada out of Calgary.

Peter Boodang declined to comment Monday, saying his company was only paid as a street promoter and had nothing to do with organizing the event.

While the man's death is not considered criminal at this point, investigators are looking for the person or persons who supplied the drug, Parthenis said.

Earlier this year, West Edmonton Mall suspended the popular Rock 'n' Ride Dance Party event at Galaxyland after the death of a 14-year-old girl. Cassandra Williams and a friend overdosed after taking six pills of ecstasy each during an April 25 event. The friend survived, but Williams died the next day after being taken off life support.

A 16-year-old was later charged in the case.

Two girls died

In March, Leah House, 14, and Trinity Bird, 15, died from ecstasy overdoses on the Paul Band reserve. They were among a group of nine girls who took the drug while at a round dance on the reserve west of Edmonton.

Police charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with their deaths.

An overdose of ecstasy can kill in at least three ways. Because the amphetamine-type drugs stimulate the heart, they can increase blood pressure until a blood vessel bursts. This usually occurs in the brain, where bleeding can be fatal.

The drug can also cause hyperthermia, or an increase in body temperature, to the point of death. Another danger is fluid retention, which causes the brain to swell and leads to brain damage.

Ecstasy pills are usually homemade and have all sorts of drugs in them, with some ecstasy tablets containing no ecstasy at all. Some batches are stronger than others and each individual reacts differently. A dose that would be harmless to one user can kill the next, experts say.