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| Wednesday, 18 August 2004 |
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by Asanga Warnakulasuriya An addictive drug commercially known as "Ecstasy" or "Love Drug" which revs up the spirits of young revellers in night clubs had been detected for the first time in Sri Lanka from a luxury hairdressing salon in Rosmead Place, Director of Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) SSP Pujith Jayasundara revealed. "The new "love drug" is the latest trend in addictive drugs among young upper class revellers. The drug is said to have 100 times the "kick" compared to heroin," the Director revealed at a media briefing yesterday. The ecstasy made artificially, known as methamphetamine is sold at prices ranging from Rs.1000-4000 depending on the "flavour", SSP said. According to the SSP, the drug which is a white pill about half the size of the local paracetamol tablet is popped into the mouth of the clubbers on the dancing floor by a special 'undercover agent' which provides extra zip and energy to the revellers allowing them to continue till the wee hours of the morning. It had been revealed that even girls as young as 14 had been addicted to this drug, the SSP said. Not every single clubber on the dance floor has access to this drug. First an addict has to recommend a new customer to the under cover agent through the mobile phone. All details are exchanged through mobile phones, the SSP added. The drug mainly manufactured in Bangkok and popular among South East Asian clubbers is becoming increasing popular among the younger generation in Sri Lanka for its "kick" in double quick time and simple adminstration. The tablet is alleged to be smuggled to Sri Lanka in guise of pharmaceutical, the SSP said. "When the drug tablet is popped into the mouth, the addicts will only have to use beer or water to activate the drug," the SSP said. The street names for Ecstasy are Adam, X-TC, Clarity, Essence, Stacy, Lover's Speed and Eve. It is a stimulant that combines ethaphetamine with mind-altering agents. The California State University research had revealed that "high" feelings from Ecstasy can last from 6 to 24 hours, with the average "high" lasting only about 3-4 hours. Users of Ecstasy report that it causes mood changes and loosens their shyness. They become more outgoing and also "accommodating". For this reason, Ecstasy has been called the "hug drug." It also curbs the need to eat, drink or sleep, enabling users to endure parties for two or three days straight. As a result, the users of Ecstasy frequently suffer effects such as dehydration or exhaustion. Ecstasy tablets cost US$ 0.20-US$ 0.40 to produce and are sold in the U.S. for US$ 30-US$ 40. One of the effects of the drug is jaw muscle tension and teeth grinding, the California University website stated. The PNB and all Police stations in Colombo under the Colombo DIG Sirisena Herath are keeping an eye on night clubs in Colombo for alleged distributions of ecstasy. |
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