Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jul 2001
Source: Casper Star-Tribune (WY)
Copyright: 2001 Casper Star-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.trib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/765

ECSTASY PROBLEM GROWING IN WYOMING

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Associated Press) - Wyoming police are seeing more of the 
drug Ecstasy, although it is nowhere near as prevalent as methamphetamine 
and marijuana.

Twelve to 18 months ago, Ecstasy was not even on Wyoming's radar screen, 
said Steve Miller, deputy director of the Wyoming Division of Criminal 
Investigation.

"We had zilch until last year," he said.

While Ecstasy does not begin to rival the abuse of methamphetamine, 
marijuana and alcohol as illegal drugs of choice for Wyoming's residents 
under 21, Miller said, he is concerned about the drug entering Wyoming.

"I see it as a growing issue," he said. "I think parents need to be very 
concerned if their children are going to raves or getting unusual pills."

DCI has been part of three cases statewide involving Ecstasy in Cheyenne, 
Laramie and Sheridan, Miller said.

The drug is most prevalent in the southeastern part of the state due to its 
closeness to the Denver area, DCI director Tom Pagel said.

The Cheyenne case happened in October when officers arrested a Denver man 
at Frontier Mall. Officials confiscated at least 100 green Ecstasy pills 
from him.

Authorities also arrested four people on Ecstasy-related charges June 23 
during a rave south of Cheyenne, Miller said.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating cases in Wyoming but DEA 
official Paul Schmidt said he could not give any more information.

The emerging use of Ecstasy in the West has become a concern to law 
enforcement. The DEA is holding special classes to teach officers statewide 
about the drug.

"We realized it's becoming a problem," said Steve Karkos, a group 
supervisor for the special support unit of DEA's Denver Division. "We're 
trying to get ahead of the game here. We're trying to warn these cops what 
to look for."

John Wiederspahn, a counselor at Southeast Wyoming Mental Health, said he 
has heard more comments from young people about the availability of Ecstasy 
in Cheyenne during the last year and a half.

"They can get it here," he said. "They don't have go to a big rave to get 
Ecstasy. Any time kids are getting involved in stuff like that, it's risky."

Ecstasy is both a hallucinogenic like LSD and a stimulant like methamphetamine.

It has become closely associated with the rave/techno music scene across 
the country, partly because of its ability to enhance the senses.

However, doctors say it affects a person's ability to regulate body 
temperature and is addictive. People have died while taking Ecstasy because 
they have become dehydrated and overheated.

"The potential for abuse is high and unfortunately its gotten an image as 
being a soft drug," Miller said.

The drug may cause short-term effects like depression, anxiety, paranoia 
and hallucinations, sleep problems and increased heart rate and blood 
pressure, he said.

More than 2,850 people nationwide were admitted to hospitals for Ecstasy 
abuse in 1999, according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network. There were 27 
deaths associated with Ecstasy from 1994 to 1998.
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