Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2007
Source: Independent  Florida Alligator, The (FL Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Campus Communications, Inc
Contact:  http://www.alligator.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/760
Author: Dave Khey and Bryan Miller
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ECSTASY ARTICLE MAKES BIG DEAL OUT OF LESS-POPULAR DRUG

The media attention given to the drug Ecstasy is nothing new to 
Gainesville. When one of us transferred to UF in 1999 from Miami, the 
controversy over Ecstasy - more specifically, MDMA - was in full 
swing in this college town.

The rave scene that had sprung up in the mid to late '90s, centering 
around a notorious club named Simon's, brought night-crawling raver 
youths to Gainesville in droves. But this scene dissolved due to new 
legislation that shifted bar and club closing times to 2 a.m.

Since the demise of the rave scene, the popularity of its hallmark 
drug has seen a similar fate, and nationwide statistics suggest this 
pattern. According to the most recent results of Monitoring the 
Future, an annual survey of American youth and young adults, the use 
of Ecstasy is at a low. While reading the front-page article in 
Tuesday's Alligator, there was something alarming about the statement 
by Lt. Bart Knowles, the Gainesville Police Department's narcotics commander.

It is simply impossible, given all the data available at the local, 
state, and federal levels, that Ecstasy possession, use or 
"popularity" is remotely "tied with marijuana" or is a leading drug 
problem in the community. A review of GPD's seizures in its annual 
report and a glance at the arrest records, disaggregated to reflect 
UF students alone from 2003 to 2006, reveals a scenario similar to 
that given by Captain Jeff Holcomb of the University Police 
Department - Gainesville's X usage is minimal.

But the Florida rave scene, while less popular than in the '90s, is 
still alive and well. Festivals like the Miami Ultra Music Festival 
attract open-air drug markets, similar to those found at Burning Man 
and Bonnaroo. Though the size and following of the rave culture has 
significantly diminished since its heyday, raves in Florida's major 
cities can still be found on the Internet. While the drugs of choice 
may shift given local trends, research suggests marijuana is still by 
far the most prevalent drug across these music scenes.

It's possible students leave Gainesville to attend these festivals 
and consume drugs such as Ecstasy. But no discernible evidence 
suggests Ecstasy is the hottest "new" craze exploding right before our eyes.

While riveting, the description of Ecstasy use in articles published 
in Tuesday's paper seem to glamorize the drug to the point where it 
will attract use even in spite of possible consequences. This is, 
after all, what occurred after the government responded to Ecstasy 
use back in the '80s - its recreational use skyrocketed. What needs 
to be published is some common sense.

Instead, we should concentrate on the concrete problems our local 
community faces. A hint should come from the article located right 
above "X 'blows up' in G'ville": an honored veteran police officer's 
death was influenced by the drug that has shadowed all others in this 
town - alcohol.

Dave Khey and Bryan Miller are UF graduate students.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman