Pubdate: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 Source: Burlington Post (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Burlington Post Contact: http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/bp/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528 BUSH PARTIES, RAVES CAN PRESENT SAFETY RISKS With summer here, so are bush parties and raves. Officials are raising the warning flag about the dangers for young people who take part in them. Drugs like ecstasy tend to be more available, and there are large crowds, potentially criminals and gangs, and a greater risk of physical or sexual assault. A joint warning has been issued by Halton Regional Police, the Halton Regional Health Department, and both the Halton public and Catholic school boards. Halton's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Bob Nosal, said the hope is to tell the community about the risks and dangers. "By creating awareness we can inform people about the reality of these events and ultimately encourage youth to make informed decisions about attending them." Knowing that young people will attend bush parties and raves, parents should ask their kids questions such as, where is the event, who will they be with, how will they handle peer pressure, and how will they get home? If a young person is attending an all-night dance party, they should be encouraged to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration; take frequent breaks from dancing; stay near trusted friends; and don't use illicit drugs or alcohol. A survey of Ontario students in 2001 found that about 18 per cent of teens reported having attended a rave in the past year, about 41 per cent a bush party. The same Ontario Student Drug Use Survey found about half of the kids who attended raves and bush parties had smoked marijuana in the past year. About one in five kids at a rave uses ecstasy, and about one in four at both a rave or a busy party reported using a hallucinogenic drug. For more information about raves, bush parties, drugs or alcohol use call the Halton Health Department at 905-825-6000, ext. 7835, or visit www.region.halton.on.ca/health. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth