Pubdate: Mon, 07 May 2001 Source: Dear Ann (US) Copyright: 2001 Creators Syndicate, Inc. Contact: http://www.creators.com/lifestyle/write.php4 Website: http://www.creators.com/lifestyle/landers/lan.asp Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/21 Note: this Ann Landers column Pub'd in Dallas Morning News 5/7/2001 Ann Landers, Donnie R. Marshall Note: Donnie R. Marshall is DEA Administrator Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy clippings) GET THE FACTS ON ECSTASY PERIL DEA Official Says Danger For Kids At 'Raves' Is Great Dear Ann Landers: As the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the parent of three teenagers, I am extremely concerned about the problem of Ecstasy and the lookalike killer drug PMA. Many of your readers are also parents who are not familiar with the "rave" scene where these drugs are readily available to their children. "Raves" are parties set up in 'various venues by promoters - in warehouses, fields, stadiums or 'clubs. They are frequently advertised as alcohol-free events, giving parents a false sense of security. Promoters hire security guards so that parties will appear safe, but they instruct the guards to look the other way when they encounter drug use. In many cases, Ecstasy and other drugs are sold at raves for $25-$40 a pill, generating a huge profit for the manufacturers who make these pills for under 50 cents apiece. Ecstasy is. called the "hug drug" because it lowers users' inhibitions and makes them crave physical contact and visual stimulation. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has determined that the drug can cause permanent changes in the brain's chemistry. Ecstasy use causes severe dehydration and can raise users' body temperatures to as high as 108 degrees. Some unscrupulous promoters, looking to sell bottled water at exorbitant prices, have turned off water supplies at rave venues, exacerbating the dangers for our children. Promoters have been known to leave overdosing kids in alleyways outside their premises. Many kids believe Ecstasy is harmless, but its use has resulted in thousands of overdoses and several deaths. Parents should look for the warning signs of Ecstasy use - strange paraphernalia including pacifiers, Vicks VapoRub, surgical masks and glowsticks. And kids who attend these raves should know that the hallucinogen PMA is being passed off as Ecstasy. This drug is marketed under brand names such as "Death" and "Mitsubishi Double Stack." Last year, three kids died in Chicago from PMA ingestion, and there have been seven deaths in central Florida attributed to PMA. There is lots of misinformation about Ecstasy out there, particularly on the Internet, and some of it gives the mistaken impression that Ecstasy is harmless and even beneficial. I implore parents to become better educated about the dangers of Ecstasy and PMA, and ask them to warn their children about the real nature of the rave scene. Donnie R. Marshall, Administrator, DEA, U.S. Department of Justice Dear Mr. Marshall: You have written a letter that could save many young lives and spare countless parents from a great deal of anguish. Parents should be aware that there are a tremendous number of substances available to young people today, and educating yourselves about the dangers is the best way to protect your children. . If you have a problem and need advice, write to Ann Landers at P.O. Box 11562, Chicago, IL 60611-0562. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder