Many gather to spread the dangers of ecstasy

DENVER - Family and friends gathered Tuesday at the Capitol to inform others about the dangers of ecstasy.

"Our children need to know that taking ecstasy is like playing Russian roulette with their lives," said Melissa Lopez.

Lopez lost her son, Antonio "Toaster" Trujillo earlier this year to a fatal dose of "X." In the months that followed, friends and family have researched the culture, facts and myths surrounding ecstasy. They assembled in downtown Denver Tuesday with signs and informational flyers in hopes of preventing more deaths.

Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, can contain many armful additives. Because it is nearly impossible to determine which chemicals are used to make any given batch of pills, treating an overdose is extremely difficult.

Some life threatening effects of ecstasy include:

Hyperthermia- extremely high body temperature -Hyponatremia - a condition where excess fluid intake swells the brain resulting in coma or death -

Over stimulation- of nervous system can result in heart attack -Breathing problems -Increased heart rate and blood pressure -Nausea -Anxiety

Mother speaks out about son's ecstasy overdose death

LITTLETON - When Tony Trujillo died of an ecstasy overdose in January, the incident didn't get much public attention. His mother now wants to change that.

Trujillo died at a friend's home in Denver on January 20. He was 16 years old.

"There were no evident signs Tony was using Ecstasy," said his mother Melissa Lopez. "He was a great kid."

Trujillo, who was known by his childhood nickname "Toaster," was a sophomore at Columbine High School.

Lopez said she expected her son to encounter pressures to use alcohol and marijuana in high school, but she associated Ecstasy use with an older crowd.

"I didn't think it was something adolescents were able to get their hands on and that it was as big as it really is out there," said Lopez.

Lopez is discussing her son's death publicly for the first time. On Tuesday, she plans to go to the Capitol building in Denver to talk to anyone who will listen to her story. She expects she'll speak to as many people passing on the street as inside.

Her son's friends say Ecstasy is as much a part of the high school drug culture as alcohol or marijuana.

"It's a huge thing," said Nickie Grimes. "It's easier than getting alcohol and weed, by far."

Grimes, who will be a junior at Greeley West High School in the fall, said teenagers who see their friends using ecstasy without visible negative side effects may be convinced it's benign.

"It's just what people do," she said. "Instead of watching TV or doing a hobby, that's like their hobby."

Grimes explained the draw.

"It gives you a really good feeling," she said. "It can make your sad feelings into happy ones and it makes you love everything and everyone. You make so many friends."

"Kids you wouldn't expect at all to do it have done it," said Zach Armijo, who attended Columbine with Trujillo.

"The preps, the jocks, the nerds, the scene kids. Everyone. It's not just a specific group," Grimes added.

"It's not just a group of kids that wear their hair in their face or have piercings that are using Ecstasy," Lopez said.

She is asking parents to add Ecstasy to their standard anti-drug speech to counter popular notions that Ecstasy isn't dangerous.

"Please don't be like I was and don't find out the way I found out," she said. "Talk to them, let them know that the information they get from the Internet isn't correct."

"How can it be fun when it kills you?" Lopez said.