Subject Designer drugs seized in Quebec - Health Canada and the SQ

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      November 16, 2009


      Subject: Designer drugs seized in Quebec – Health Canada and the SQ
      present a new report

      To coincide with Quebec’s drug addiction prevention week, Health Canada, in
      collaboration with the Sûreté du Québec and its other police partners, has
      released its Drug Analysis Report on Designer Drugs Seized in Quebec—June
      2007 to July 2008. This report provides a portrait of the tablets available as
      ecstasy and speed in all social environments in Quebec.

      The study addresses the composition of designer drugs and the trends with
      respect to tablets seized in the various regions of Quebec. It emphasizes the
      predominance of methamphetamine (speed) over MDMA (ecstasy) and its
      derivatives.

      “This report has shown us that 54% of the time, users do not really know what
      they are consuming. They cannot rely on dealers or symbols on the tablets to
      know a drug’s composition. It is therefore nearly impossible to anticipate its
      effects. We are proud to join forces with our partners to launch a report that will
      help combat the increasing consumption of synthetic drugs,” said Benoit
      Archambault, Lab Manager, Drug Analysis Service, Health Canada.

      This project was launched to inform the public about the illegal tablets
      circulating in their communities and to make users aware of the disparity
      between what they believe they are buying and what they are taking. To this
      end, Health Canada chemists analyzed 365 samples collected between June
      2007 and July 2008 by the Sûreté du Québec and the police forces of Montreal,
      Laval, Longueuil and Quebec City.

      This report will be used as a working tool for information, education and
      prevention by the various education, health and enforcement stakeholders.


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