Pubdate: Sat, 13 May 2000
Source: Star, The (South Africa)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers 2000
Contact:  http://www.inc.co.za/online/star/
Note: Headline supplied by newshawk

ECSTASY MENACE TO YOUNG MALAYSIAN CHINESE

AMPHETAMINE or Ecstasy in the form of pills has posed a grave social
menace to young Malaysian Chinese.

Of the 25,000 suspected Ecstasy pill users held by police during the
first four months of this year, more than 70% were Chinese youths,
Nanyang Siang Pau said in a special report this week.

A random survey by the daily showed that youths who used amphetamine
felt the pills were not drugs and that the question of addiction did
not arise.

According to the daily, an Ecstasy pill, which cost about RM150
previously, was now available at many entertainment centres in the
city for RM50.

The availability of amphetamine pills in the entertainment centres was
partly the reason for the rampant use of the drug by youngsters, said
the daily.
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