Pubdate: Sun, 29 Sep 2002
Source: Johnson City Press (TN)
Copyright: 2002 Johnson City Press and Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1983
Author:  John Thompson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)

RAVE CLUBS NOT RAVE LOCALLY

Not too many parents in the Tri-Cities are familiar with rave parties. Rave 
clubs have been a trend in the nation's larger cities for the past decade 
and have popularized a series of "club drugs." The most well known of these 
drugs is Ecstasy.

Johnson City Police Chief Ron Street said there have been only three rave 
activities in the city, and the last one was more than a year ago.

The major drug problem in the city comes from the abuse of crack cocaine. 
Street said that does not mean his department does not worry about club 
drugs and rave clubs.

"I can assure you we will be vigilant and we will be a presence at any rave 
event," Street said.

Street sees two serious problems with rave clubs. First is the emphasis on 
drug usage and second is the youthfulness of the club-goers.

"Many parents are misinformed," said Street. He said the clubs often have a 
no-alcohol policy and cater to teenagers, leading parents to think they are 
safe places for their children.

While many of the clientele are not old enough to legally use alcohol, 
there is widespread use of drugs that are categorized as schedule I 
narcotics, the highest category under the Controlled Substances Act.

Ecstasy is a brand name for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. 
According to Donnie R. Marshall, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 
administrator, the chemistry behind MDMA has been known since 1912, but the 
drug did not become popular among abusers until the 1980s.

MDMA is a stimulant and it also is a slight hallucinogen. The drug greatly 
increases blood pressure and heart rate. It also suppresses the need to 
eat, drink or sleep, enabling users to dance throughout the night and even 
for two or three days.

The effects of the drug and the extreme exertions from dancing at rave 
clubs can result in heart failure and heat stroke. In 1998, the nation's 
emergency rooms reported 1,143 incidents involving Ecstasy. The National 
Drug Intelligence Center says that body temperatures of MDMA users have 
been known to reach 109 degrees.

The drug also causes muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, 
blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, chills or sweating, extreme 
relaxation and tremors.

Because of these physiological characteristics, rave clubs usually offer 
bottled water and sports drinks to combat dehydration and hypothermia. 
Street said MDMA users also use some distinctive paraphernalia, including 
pacifiers to prevent the involuntary teeth clenching. Other accouterments 
for the stylish rave-goer are lollipops and face masks, which are coated 
with Vick's VapoRub to soothe their parched throats.

It is also a mood-altering drug that loosens inhibitions, causing the users 
to become more outgoing and affectionate. That explains the drug's street 
names of "love drug," "hug drug" and "lovers' speed."

MDMA users often use chemical light sticks, necklaces and bracelets to 
enhance the psychedelic effect.

Street said that although rave parties are not a problem in the area, they 
may become more popular in the future, if past drug trends are any indication.

Street said that drug trends reach Johnson City several years after they 
become popular in the trend setter cities like New York and Los Angeles. It 
then finds its way to medium-sized cities before reaching areas like the 
Tri-Cities.

That time lag helps local law enforcement agencies learn more about the 
problem before a new drug trend reaches their jurisdiction.

In an article in The Police Chief in August 2000, Marshall wrote that the 
lessons learned in fighting the illegal drug trade have taught "the value 
of spotting trends early."

"The cocaine epidemic that gave rise to a national crime spree in the 1980s 
would not have been nearly as severe if it had been taken more seriously in 
the early 1970s," Marshall said in The Police Chief.

Street has taken the advice to heart. He said his department has been 
proactive about possible rave events.

"We monitor advertisements on telephone poles and other areas promoting 
them," said Street. Street and Capt. Trent Harris, commander of the 
department's Criminal Investigation Division, also monitor the rave sites 
on the Internet to keep abreast of any future events.

Street said that if rave events are held in the city in the future, his 
officers would closely monitor them. He said there would be uniformed 
officers and undercover officers to keep his administration informed about 
any law violations.

The JCPD also uses drug information to help keep citizens better informed. 
He said parents need to be more knowledgeable about the parties they allow 
their children to attend. Landlords of buildings where events might take 
place are also provided information.

Perhaps the most important group that needs better information about the 
club drugs are the young people who are tempted to use them. Street said 
his department tries to get the message out that it is better to be a 
leader and say "no" to drugs than to be a follower and end up in trouble.

"It is a very dangerous way to have a good time," Street said about rave 
parties. "I would not recommend them to anyone."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom