Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jan 2001
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2001 Detroit Free Press
Contact:  http://www.freep.com/
Forum: http://www.freep.com/webx/cgi-bin/WebX
Author: Ben Schmitt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

RAVE HAZARDS TO BE DISCUSSED

Concerns over the hazards of rave parties are so great that organizers of a 
metro Detroit conference today on so-called club drugs -- including ecstasy 
- -- are turning people away.

The conference is expected to attract 400 people from schools, churches and 
law enforcement and human service agencies. It will be held at the 
Southfield Center for the Arts.

Raves are generically categorized as large illegal gatherings in abandoned 
warehouses with techno and other types of music and revelers ingesting drugs.

More than 200 people had to be turned away as of Tuesday, said Susan Hiltz, 
executive director of the nonprofit Prevention Coalition of Southeast 
Michigan (PREVCO).

"There's just a thirst for knowledge about club drugs," Hiltz said.

Part of that thirst is fueled by recent incidents in metro Detroit: A 
1-year-old Waterford girl was hospitalized on Christmas after ingesting 
ecstasy that she found in her mother's purse. Also, a 21-year-old woman 
died after taking ecstasy on New Year's Eve at the Motor Lounge in Hamtramck.

Other club drugs include: Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer, LSD, and GHB, 
dubbed the date-rape drug.

Sgt. Michael Lemons of the Detroit Police narcotics division said his 
department raided about five raves last summer.

"It's usually suburban kids," said Lemons, a conference speaker. At one 
rave, he said, "we found ecstasy and Ketamine, but mostly we found nitrous 
oxide."

"This is a trend we need to jump on," Hiltz said.

Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties will host subsequent, separate meetings 
on raves. For information, call PREVCO at 810-466-5030, 9-5 weekdays.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D