Smoking heroin off aluminum is suspected in three recent deaths and at least seven cases of serious brain damage in the metropolitan area, Royal Canadian Mounted Police say.

“Don’t smoke heroin, period – but if you do, don’t smoke it off aluminum,” said Wayne Jeffrey, a police toxicologist. “There seems to be an interaction between some of the things heroin is cut with and the aluminum foil that causes a toxic reaction.”

The unusually large cluster of deaths and brain damage reported in heroin smokers is the largest ever seen in North America, health officials say, and the source remains unclear.

The first sign of trouble, officials say, is slurred speech and a wobbly walk, followed by an inability to speak and paralysis. Authorities say the signs can take weeks to develop.

Many of the survivors are too damaged to describe what happened, but Daws said investigators believe they all smoked heroin that was resting on aluminum foil and may have filtered the smoke through steel wool.

Also, here is the information on aluminium poisoning from NYU Langone Medical Center:

Definition

Aluminum toxicity occurs when a person ingests or breathes high levels of aluminum in the body.

Aluminum is the most plentiful metal in the earth’s crust. It is present in the environment combined with other elements such as oxygen, silicon, and fluorine.

Exposure to aluminum is usually not harmful, but exposure to high levels can cause serious health problems. If you think you have been exposed to high levels of aluminum, contact your doctor.

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Causes

Because aluminum is found in food, water, air, and soil, people may be exposed to high levels of aluminum when they:

Drink or ingest substances containing high levels of aluminum
Breath aluminum dust in workplace air
Live in dusty environments
Live where aluminum is mined or processed
Live near certain hazardous waste sites
Live where aluminum is naturally high
Receive vaccinations containing aluminum
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Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is because of aluminum toxicity. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician, especially if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis.

Confusion
Muscle weakness
Bone pain, deformities, and fractures
Seizures
Speech problems
Slow growth—in children

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.