Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2001
Source: St. Joseph News-Press (MO)
Copyright: 2001 The News-Press
Contact:  http://www.stjoenews-press.com/
Address: P.O. Box 29, St. Joseph, MO 64502-0029
Feedback: http://12.14.200.4/letters/letters1.htm
Fax: (816) 271-8692
Author: Michele Reaves
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

GRAVES JOINS ECSTASY DRUG FIGHT

WASHINGTON - The drug Ecstasy has found a new foe in U.S. Rep. Sam Graves.

"It took the community by surprise," said Mr. Graves, R-Mo. "(Users are) 
not only at raves. We're seeing them in barns and machine sheds in the 
rural areas."

Mr. Graves listened Tuesday to roughly 30 local and federal officials, 
participating in a video conference he'd organized to discuss problems in 
combating the drug in Northwest Missouri. The congressman, who has 
conducted five such conferences, said he plans to introduce legislation 
this fall to fight the spread of Ecstasy.

About 3.4 million Americans nationwide have used the drug, according to the 
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Ecstasy, which acts as a stimulant and a 
hallucinogen, is most popular among 12- to 25-year- olds.

"(Ecstasy) probably poses the single largest threat to our youth today," 
said Lawrence Gallina, chief of domestic operations for the Drug 
Enforcement Administration.

Keith Wood, director of public safety for Maryville, Mo., said his officers 
found Ecstasy in the community soon after students returned to Northwest 
Missouri State University last year. He said officers made about five 
Ecstasy-related arrests.

Medical emergencies at local bars alerted Mr. Wood to the drug's use, he 
said. "We had a couple of ambulance calls on one night," Mr. Wood said. 
"One student was in a coma for three or four days, which is typical of an 
(Ecstasy) overdose."

Ecstasy, a pill, heightens the senses and causes a feeling of euphoria, 
according to Dr. Glen Hanson, director of neuroscience and behavioral 
research at the National Institute of Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md. Side 
effects can include muscle damage, long-term depression and affected sleep 
and a rise in body temperature to as much as 109 degrees.

Capt. Paul Carrill, an investigator with the Platte County Sheriff's 
Department, said his office has been tracking Ecstasy use for the past 
year. The officers have concentrated on identifying suppliers in the area, 
buying the drug for $7 to $20 a pill, he said.

But they've had trouble infiltrating the market, he said. "The traditional 
undercover officer has to appear 16 or 17 or 18 years old," like an average 
user, he said. Resources, though, are the largest problem of all. "We need 
more money and more manpower," said Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox, 
who said the drug appeared in his community earlier this year.

Mr. Carrill added that money limitations hamper undercover work because the 
department can't afford to pay the detectives enough overtime. Perception 
of the drug also has been an issue.

"You've got people thinking the drug is harmless," said Wayne Hogan, drug 
demand reduction coordinator for the Air National Guard counter- drug 
program. "At the same time it's creeping in with young people and high 
schoolers, who know more about it than I did when I first got started 
(teaching an awareness program)." Although neighboring counties have found 
Ecstasy use, Buchanan County has no confirmed case to date.

"We haven't had a problem yet, but we anticipate a problem," said Sgt. Ron 
Gordon, spokesman for the St. Joseph Police Department.

Mike Strong, commander of the Drug Strike Force in Buchanan County, agreed, 
saying his officers have been trained to detect the drug and have been 
investigating the use of Ecstasy for almost two months.

Jonathan Kelley, director of security at Missouri Western State College, is 
also alert for signs of Ecstasy on campus. "We are keeping an eye out for 
it, but we haven't seen any use of it," Mr. Kelley said. "I'm not going to 
say it's not out there."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager