SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A trip to the hospital earlier this month has one Yellowknife resident concerned about teenage drug users in the city.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she had to bring her 13-year-old nephew to the hospital after discovering he had combined over-the-counter pain medication with cough syrup and pop in order to get high. The woman said she discovered what had happened when the mother of one of the boy's friends called her after bringing her own son to the hospital. The boy had become very ill and confessed what he had done to his parents, who then called the woman.

"His friend was brought to the hospital first and he told his mom what happened because he was scared, he was that sick," she said. "So then she phoned our place and said 'you should bring him to the hospital.'" The woman said the effects look like the flu.

"What happens is they take this and sometimes really quickly and sometimes it's hours later, they start throwing up and stuff and it looks like the flu," she said.

Because of flu-like symptoms and the lack of signs associated with typical drug use, parents may not know their child has taken the mixture, the woman said.

"It's really easy to hide because you don't get the typical pupil dilation, glassy eyes and stuff like that," she said. "And of course there is no smell."

The long-time resident of Yellowknife said combining pills, cough syrup and pop isn't new. She said she remembers kids taking the combination when she was young.

RCMP Sgt. Wayne Norris said the RCMP have not been notified of any cases in the city.

"We haven't responded to any calls for service in regards to that," he said.

Norris also said none of the city's schools have brought this to the attention of the RCMP.

"I have spoken to our school liaison officer and he's been in contact with the schools and there is no indication of this type of behaviour," he said. "Obviously we have a close working relationship with the schools and if that was a concern, that's something that would have been brought to our attention."

Kami Kandola, chief medical officer for the Northwest Territories, was not available for comment as of press time.

The woman who came forward to Yellowknifer said she wanted to raise awareness so parents and caregivers in the city know this is happening.

"There is big awareness on illegal drugs, but this isn't mentioned," she said. "A kid smokes pot and he's high for a little while, a kid does this and he's potentially dead."

Kay Lewis, CEO of Stanton Territorial Hospital, confirmed two 13-year-old boys were recently admitted but could not say why.

A 13-year-old girl was also hospitalized Feb. 20 after her parents found her not breathing. Police suspect her condition was caused by drug use.

Norris said he had no information on her condition. She remains in an Edmonton hospital where she was medevaced from Yellowknife.