Pubdate: Fri, 08 Feb 2002
Source: South Delta Leader (CN BC)
Section: Opinion
Copyright: 2002 South Delta Leader
Contact:  http://www.southdeltaleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1241
Author: Dave Hepburn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG EYE-OPENER

I first met 17-year-old- Mabel in the fall of 1997.

Mabel (the name has been changed to protect the generation) sat across from 
me, shoulders slumped forward, head slung low and looking as though she 
hadn't slept in a week of Wednesdays.

Mabel was escorted by a counselor who was requesting that I fill out a form 
so that Mabel could enter a drug rehab program.

Turning to Mabel I inquired "So what drugs are we talking about?"

I expected the usual sad response of heroin or cocaine, both usually 
accompanied by a marijuana and alcohol problem.

"No dude" she responded, glancing up "E, jib and GHB." I had no clue what 
she was talking about.

It is at such times that the experienced doctor relies on his MD degree 
(Master of Deception) and impersonates an expert on a subject he knows 
nothing of (you should see me do vasectomies).

"So good old jib is it?"

"Right on dude! You see," she turned to the counselor "he knows the rave 
scene."

Nodding knowingly I thought, "OK, a hint, something about a rave. What the 
heck is a rave?"

I have since become all too familiar with the new drugs of abuse associated 
with the technoid generation's rave scene.

Raves are the all-night frantic love dancing of the totally tubular 
telephone-totin' techno teen.

Though the pattern for drug addiction seems to remain basically the same, 
ie. smoking, alcohol and pot lead to further "experimentation" and 
eventually addiction, now the choice of substances of abuse has expanded.

*Ecstasy (E, X, lovedrug)

A powerful stimulant and mood changer, E is the drug most associated with 
raves.

It tends to induce an overwhelming urge to dance to anything resembling 
music. A teen on E may be seen rocking with reckless abandon to everything 
from Abba to Zamphir.

They breakdance in elevators and boogie in the dentist's chair. Car alarms 
can trigger hours of line dancing.

A typical Ecstasy user can be identified by the ludicrous loving grin on 
their face as they dance and hug one partner after another.

But there is an agony to this Ecstasy.

Users sweat profusely as they dance like demons. They do not get thirsty 
and can become precariously dehydrated without sensing it.

Subsequently, Ecstasy users are told by their dealers to drink loads of 
water to avoid dehydration.

One girl I know of, unsure of how much water she was supposed to drink, 
actually drank much too much water to offset the Ecstasy and actually died 
of water intoxication.

*GHB: Yet another drug that creates an uninhibited sense of exhilaration is 
"B".

This is soon followed by a sense of inhibited unexhilaration when the drug 
wears off and the user has woken to discover the consequences of bad decisions.

Mixed with alcohol, this drug can render the user as confused as a baby in 
a topless bar.

GHB not only causes a dangerous drop in blood pressure but also can lead to 
seizures, which at a rave may simply be applauded as a wild new dance move.

*Crystal Meth (gib, glass, ice, crank):

Every so often a quiet home in the suburbs seems to erupt in mysterious 
spontaneous combustion.

Such is the volatility of producing crystal meth, described as being a mix 
of lighter fluid and laundry detergent.

The poor man's cocaine, this dangerous drug can be snorted, injected and 
smoked. Its popularity stems from the fact that it leads to a heightening 
of sexual desire and mad abandoned sex.

Once big in the gay community, it is now a regular at raves.

The sex drive becomes so powerful that this drug has been indicted as a 
factor in the spread of AIDS.

As libido is enhanced, safe sex is cast aside.

Extremely addictive, the "life or meth" drug has now actually spawned its 
own CMA (Crystal Meth Anonymous), complete with 12 steps.

One final note, as Mabel left the office en route to detox, she turned and 
said "Please don't tell my mom, she thinks I'm off with a friend for a few 
days."

- --------------------------------------------------

Dr. Dave Hepburn has been awarded the prestigious George Cadogan Memorial 
Award for his editorials from the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. 
Congratulations Dr. Hepburn.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl