Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Drug for sale despite Health Canada warning

From CBC News:
A drug currently available in some Canadian stores — said to induce the same kind of "high" as the street drug ecstasy — may pose serious health risks, Health Canada says.

Nevertheless, the department says, it has seen a steady increase in shipments of the drugs to the country — which are manufactured in the United States by Stargate International and sold and distributed by Purepillz, a Canadian retailer.

Four products — Peaq, Freq, PureRush and PureSpun — are promoted on the Purepillz website as "social tonics," Health Canada said.

The pills, which contain some of the same amphetamines found in ecstasy, induce "kind of like a body high — nice and mellow," said Carry Dobson, of Calgary. "Your sensation of touch is heightened. So, you know, it feels pretty good."

However, the pills can "lead to dehydration, increased blood pressure, possibly seizures," warned Dr. Wende Wood of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

In July, Health Canada issued this warning: "Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase these products from the Internet or any other source" and "is taking enforcement action" to make sure the companies stop selling them. ...more

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