Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jan 2001
Source: Bay Area Reporter (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Bay Area Reporter / B.A.R.
Contact:  http://www.ebar.com/
Author: Ed Walsh
Cited: http://www.dancesafe.org (DanceSafe)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

'HARM REDUCTION' GROUP SCREENS PILLS OUTSIDE GAY VENUE

DanceSafe teamed up with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence last weekend
outside Club Universe for the first time to provide ecstasy adulterant
screening. 

The controversial Oakland-based DanceSafe has offered its pill testing
service at raves and dance clubs across the country. In the Bay Area, nearly
one-third of the pills tested by DanceSafe are adulterated or fake,
according to DanceSafe's Will Roscoe. 

"This service has never been offered to patrons of queer clubs and circuit
parties in San Francisco," said Roscoe, who was one of the volunteers who
helped set up a table in an alley near Club Universe last Saturday night. 

Roscoe told the Bay Area Reporter that DanceSafe has gotten a verbal
agreement from the San Francisco District Attorney's office to not prosecute
anyone involved in the pill testing. In addition to testing, DanceSafe
offered patrons condoms, earplugs, and drug information literature. Roscoe
said that because it was DanceSafe's first outreach to a Bay Area gay club,
some people not familiar with the organization may have been reluctant to
have their drugs tested. Roscoe said they tested just one ecstasy tablet and
found it had not been adulterated. 

Roscoe said he hoped last weekend's event and others like it would help
spread the word of the dangers of tainted ecstasy. Coincidentally, at the
same time DanceSafe was getting started outside Club Universe, three
teenagers overdosed on what may have been adulterated ecstasy at a party in
Hayward. All three were rushed to St. Rose Hospital where they were treated
and released. 

Roscoe said ecstasy is often adulterated with caffeine, sinus medication, or
the drugs DXM (dextromethorphan) or PMA (para-methoxy-amphetamine, 4-MA).
PMA, warns DanceSafe's Web site, is a powerful stimulant that is cheaper and
easier to manufacture than ecstasy and far more dangerous. DXM is a cough
suppressant that in high doses acts as a dissociative similar to ketamin, or
Special K, according to DanceSafe. 

Roscoe told the B.A.R. that he considers the mission of DanceSafe one of
"harm reduction" and he disagrees with those who would suggest it encourages
drug use. 

"In the end, fewer pills are being taken because people aren't taking the
adulterated pills," said Roscoe. "And we're talking about people who arrive
at these events already with the drugs in their pockets." 

Roscoe added that DanceSafe is saving lives by preventing people from being
exposed to drugs far more dangerous than ecstasy. 

"I think it really does promote safety and more consciousness about use,"
said Roscoe. "It really gets people to think more about what they're doing
and being more aware of it. I think it makes them more careful and more
cautious about what they're up to. The goal of harm reduction is not to
eliminate the stuff but to reduce the harm from it." 

DanceSafe plans to visit other gay clubs in the future. The organization is
planning a volunteer training session this Sunday, January 14. For more
information, contact Roscoe at (415) 563-7277 or e-mail him  ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk