Pubdate: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: #250, 4990-92 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 3A1 Canada Fax: (780) 468-0139 Website: http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/ Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html Author: Caitlin Miller Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk PUB LTE: TEACH DRUG RESPONSIBILITY I am appalled by the recent uproar concerning the danger that raves pose to Edmonton's youth. It seems that yet another scene is being destroyed due to irresponsible drug use by young people who do not fully understand the risks tied to it. The media and politicians are preying upon desperate parents who search for a scapegoat to explain these troubled teens. What people do not realize is that drugs exist everywhere. If the city shuts down raves, Edmonton youth will simply find another place to continue their drug use. If people would focus more on education instead of the immediate obliteration of drug use, then one may see more promising changes in Edmonton's youth. Stopping raves will only make people who attend them for the enjoyment of culture, music and art suffer. Young people are going to do drugs whether the city likes it or not, the least we can do is teach them drug responsibility. Caitlin Miller (Education beats regulations.) - --- MAP posted-by: Greg