Pubdate: Sat, 29 Sep 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362

OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF RAVES

Raves - the underground, all-night, trance"dance gatherings that cater to 
the under-21 crowd - aren't common in Lane County. Not yet, anyway.

But drug enforcement and treatment officials hope to be ready when they do 
arrive. And they hope that families will recognize the dangers and take 
steps to prevent their teen-agers from using the so-called "club drugs" 
that are part and parcel of raves.

About 100 youth services and drug treatment professionals gathered Friday 
in Eugene for an all-day conference sponsored by Lane County's Health and 
Human Services Department to learn about raves and the health and 
psychological problems that can result from using club drugs.

"There has not been a lot seen here in Eugene, yet. But it's coming," said 
Tim Teal, resident agent-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration 
office here. Federal agents will focus on rave promoters who benefit 
financially from drug use during their events, he said.

Raves are money makers: Admission runs as high as $100, officials said. As 
many as 10,000 youths may attend the events, which usually are staged in 
warehouses equipped with elaborate lighting, dance floors and big sound 
systems.

Lane County District Attorney Doug Harcleroad said his office has had no 
criminal complaints stemming from small raves staged locally, but he has 
heard of sexual assaults with the use of date-rape drugs that often are 
available at raves.

Club drugs have become problems in other communities and internationally, 
said Richard Rawson, a researcher in the Integrated Substance Abuse 
Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles. In spite of myths 
that club drugs are safer than more familiar street drugs, Rawson said 
ecstasy abuse is the leading cause of adolescent admissions to Israel's 
largest child psychiatric hospital, for example.

Amateur chemists who concoct club drugs sometimes make ecstasy with 30 
percent methamphetamine content. A dose of GHB, a popular liquid club drug 
measured by the capful, can contain from a half-gram to five grams of 
chemical. "These are all manufactured by chemists who really don't know 
what they're making. You really are taking unknown doses," Rawson said.

Club drugs are new enough that information about their long-term health and 
neurological effects is only beginning to shape up, he said. But it's 
obvious that the drugs aren't benign, he said. Ecstasy, for example, seems 
to create brain damage very similar to its cousin chemical, 
methamphetamine. Whether the damage heals when use is discontinued isn't 
yet known.

For young people looking for fun, health concerns may be overpowered by the 
heady atmosphere and friendly philosophy of raves, said Eric Martin, a drug 
treatment expert who has studied raves.

"In a way, raves are like the '60s all over again," Martin said. "There are 
some aspects of raves that aren't all bad."

Fliers for raves often promote peace, love, unity and respect, Martin said. 
Fliers may advertise a rave as alcohol-free, but closer examination shows 
highlighted initials of common club drugs and slang that signals that drug 
use is acceptable.

Some fliers even advertise the presence of a group called "Dance Safe," 
whose mission is to test the purity of ecstasy tablets, Martin said.

Dr. Michael Leeds, a Eugene psychologist, said raves appeal to young 
teen-agers - a big concern for families.

Leeds has interviewed rave-goers and found that many consider the parties a 
transition from youth to early adulthood. He also found that some 
rave-goers have been alarmed by seeing others suffering seizures or 
becoming incoherent under the influence of club drugs.

Leeds advises parents to speak openly with children about their own 
experiences with drugs and alcohol to convey their concerns about 
children's safety and the potential long-term damage of drugs.

Ideally, the discussion would be part of a continuous sharing of values 
about where the parents stand on the issue, how children take their place 
in a community, personal responsibility, sexuality and other topics, he said.

"Don't lie to your kids. That's super-destructive. That's going to ruin 
your relationship," he said.

Club Drugs

Ecstasy"MDMA: A stimulant-hallucinogen. Increases feelings of well-being 
and sociability. Heightens sensitivity to sensory input. Has become a 
staple at raves. Increases heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature. 
Causes dehydration. Can damage kidneys and liver. Harms memory, learning, 
intelligence. Also called "E," "X," "XTC."

Ketamine: A disassociative-anesthesic chemically similar to PCP, it causes 
users to hallucinate, feel disconnected from their bodies. Side effects 
include muscle spasms, dizziness, slurred speech, anxiety, memory loss. 
Also called "K," "Special K," "Vitamin K."

GHB: A hypnotic-depressant, it can be a date-rape drug. A respiratory 
depressant, it is very dangerous when used with alcohol. Black market 
dosages vary widely, adding to hazards of using it. Available as 
floor-stripper chemical. Another form, GBL, is marketed as equipment 
cleaner and health aid. Creates euphoria, energy, optimism. Side effects 
are exhaustion, insomnia, amnesia, depression. Also called GBH for "great 
bodily harm," "Liquid X," "Liquid E."

Rohypnol: The leading date-rape drug, it is a depressant that intoxicates 
at low doses, particularly when used with alcohol. Amnesia is a common side 
effect. Also called roofies, rophies, roches.

Others: LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine and alcohol are other common drugs 
of abuse at all-night trance-dance events. More information is available at 
www.doitnow.org and www.clubdrugs.org.

- - National Institute on Drug Abuse, Do It Now Foundation
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens