Pubdate: 4 Aug 1999
Source: Daily News Journal (TN)
Contact:  224 N Walnut St, Murfreesboro, TN
Website: http://dnj.edge.net/
Forum: http://dnj.edge.net/forums.ez
Author: Jim Mahanes, Staff writer
Note: Followup to this article in the online forum at
http://dnj.edge.net/index.ez?viewStory5285

'THEY CALL IT ROLLING IN ECSTACY'
Raver Talks About Parties, Drugs

A 19-year-old arrested recently at a Rave at the I-24 Expo sat down
with Smyrna Police Tuesday for a frank discussion about what actually
happens at these parties.

In return for not disclosing his full identity, Jason, 19, from Fort
Campbell, also let the media in on his all-encompassing discussion
about the music, dancing, drugs and paraphernalia commonly found at
Raves across the country.

"I've been to (parties) in Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee...If
you go to one, you'll hear about others that are coming up," said
Jason, one of a handful of young people arrested for drug possession
two weeks ago outside a Rave here in Rutherford County.

He hopes his help in educating police about Raves will reflect on his
punishment. He faces jail time and up to a $100,000 fine for
possessing eight pills, or "rolls" as he called them, of the homemade
designer drug ecstasy.

A 19-year-old man, who spoke to Smyrna Police and media Tuesday on the
grounds of anonymity, identifies some of the paraphernalia commonly
used by participants of Raves. Pacifiers and mentholated medicinal
items heighten the effects of drugs taken by many of those who attend
the parties, said the man, who was arrested recently by Smyrna Police
at a local Rave. Also seen here are items like candy 'Pop Rocks,' and
a geometric ball that are used as psychedelic party favors. 

"They call it rolling in ecstasy, so you call one (pill) a roll," he
said, as he gave Smyrna investigators a list of slang terms used by
Rave goers to talk about the drugs prevalent at Raves. "For instance,
(doing the drug Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer) is called being in
the K-hole because it gives you tunnel vision when you do it."

Jason went on to explain why some Rave participants walk around
chewing on infant pacifiers or inhale mentholated vapor rub at the
parties.

"Ecstasy makes you grind your teeth, so you chew on (a pacifier)," he
said. "It also enhances your senses. People will take a (mentholated)
inhaler and blow in people's faces. It's called a shotgun....it
enhances your pleasure."

Raves have grown in popularity among young people ever since making
their way to the U.S. from Europe in the early '90s.

They are usually covert, all-night parties held at just about any
venue that can hold 2,000 or more people at one time. Organizers hire
one or more DJs who pump out hours of chest-poundingly loud techno
music while participants dance in a sea of colored, flashing lights.

Raves are usually highly publicized, though the locations of the
parties are traditionally a close-guarded secret. Sometimes, Jason
said, the locations are obtained after driving to three or more
locations and getting clues -- like a scavenger hunt -- to the final
destination.

They're a secret because they have become synonymous with drug use,
particularly hallucinogens, participants say, because such drugs
enhance the already intense visceral experience of the lights and music.

"People go to Raves to dance. They aren't just about drugs, but the
drugs you do enhance the party," Jason said. "I'd say about 60 percent
of the people at Raves do drugs."

Rave goers range in age from 13 to 30, Jason said, adding that he has
seen parents who have unknowingly dropped their children off at the
parties.

"It's not the type of environment where people just walk up to you and
try and sell drugs, but if you want it, you can find it," he said.

Until recently, officers said, they had never even heard of a
Rave.

"I was in disbelief when I heard there was one here. I went to school
a couple of months ago where we learned about Raves," said Smyrna
Detective Rick Hall. "My first reaction, when they explained what it
was, was that we'll never have something like that in Smyrna...and
here it is."

Much of what Hall learned was confirmed by Jason on Tuesday, he said,
but it was good to hear that information first hand. It was also scary
to know that they are here in Rutherford County, he said.

"In Orlando, they were saying that Raves have gotten so big and there
are so many kids (overdosing) at these things, that instead of sending
police officers out to them, they send (medical) trauma teams out,"
Hall said.

Smyrna Police believe Raves are not new to the county but think the
one held there last month was the first in Smyrna -- and they hope the
last -- but they are not taking chances.

The information they gathered from Jason on Tuesday, according to
Smyrna Police Sgt. Ken Hampton, will be used to help educate other
local departments and parents, which is the crux of their efforts.

"I think, as a community, what we heard today is invaluable," Hampton
said. "We're going to provide this information to other departments
and parents by way of classes and seminars.

"As a department, we had information about these parties, but to
actually sit down and talk to someone who goes to a lot of these
things is very beneficial to us," Hampton said. "We're hoping that we
can educate some parents about these things so that they will know
what goes on."

Hampton said the Rutherford County Rave was billed as a local youth
convention.

"How many youth conventions do you know go till 7 a.m.?" he said. "It
scares me to think that there are 15- and 16-year-olds out there on
the streets after one of these things. We're going to stay on top of
this."

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