It has been only one month, since two girls died from ‘bad’ ecstasy on the Paul Band First Nation. Now, the tragedy has seemed to repeat itself. 14 year old Cassie Williams, died after taking 6 tablets of what is suspected to be triple strength ecstasy, while at an underage party in West Edmonton Mall.
After hearing about the deaths of the Paul Band girls I had hoped that their deaths would act as a wake-up call to teens. Ecstasy’s use is so wide spread; I get the feeling that teens, and adults for that matter, do not perceive it to be dangerous. It is lumped in the same category as marijuana, under the token that everyone is doing it, so it can’t be bad. Now, in just the Edmonton area, 3 girls have died, and at least 5 others (publically) have been admitted to hospital for Ecstasy related problems. This is not a harmless drug! I know that and I’m sure that most people reading this blog know that. The question is, ‘how do we communicate that Ecstasy is dangerous to the young teens who are trying it out because everyone else is doing it?’
The same can be said, of cocaine, or even drinking and driving. Publically everyone will admit that drugs are a bad thing to do or that no one should ever drink and drive. When it comes down to it though, many people perceive that there are safe and unsafe drugs and hundreds of people still drink and drive. The perception is that only people with a serious drug problem use heroin, where as everyone now days uses cocaine, or marijuana. Just because something is prevalent (a very relative term in drug use) does not mean that it is safe.
How many teens have to die, before people take notice? A tragedy should not end within a month, having everyone forget the lesson that was supposed to be learned.
My hope is that a change will begin to happen. For one, West Edmonton Mall needs to step up their security at their underage party ‘Rock and Ride.’ Drug use at this event is extensive and as highlighted in an April 27, Edmonton Journal article, “Security just doesn’t realize that pretty much everyone is on ecstasy. Most teens stuff the drug down their shirt or their pants so it isn’t found when they enter. Many girls walk around sucking on soothers, a telltale sign of ecstasy use. (A 14 year old) girl said everyone her age who goes to the mall knows if they want to get ecstasy, the dealers hang out in front of Circuit Circus. And if they don’t know, they can learn in five minutes.”
As I said with the last Ecstasy deaths, I hope that this tragedy is a wakeup call to youth. If nothing changes, Cassie Williams death will be entirely in vain.