OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF RAVES

Raves - the underground, all-night, trance"dance gatherings that cater to
the under-21 crowd - aren't common in Lane County. Not yet, anyway.

But drug enforcement and treatment officials hope to be ready when they do
arrive. And they hope that families will recognize the dangers and take
steps to prevent their teen-agers from using the so-called "club drugs"
that are part and parcel of raves.

About 100 youth services and drug treatment professionals gathered Friday
in Eugene for an all-day conference sponsored by Lane County's Health and
Human Services Department to learn about raves and the health and
psychological problems that can result from using club drugs.

"There has not been a lot seen here in Eugene, yet. But it's coming," said
Tim Teal, resident agent-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration
office here. Federal agents will focus on rave promoters who benefit
financially from drug use during their events, he said.

Raves are money makers: Admission runs as high as $100, officials said. As
many as 10,000 youths may attend the events, which usually are staged in
warehouses equipped with elaborate lighting, dance floors and big sound
systems.

Lane County District Attorney Doug Harcleroad said his office has had no
criminal complaints stemming from small raves staged locally, but he has
heard of sexual assaults with the use of date-rape drugs that often are
available at raves.

Club drugs have become problems in other communities and internationally,
said Richard Rawson, a researcher in the Integrated Substance Abuse
Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles. In spite of myths
that club drugs are safer than more familiar street drugs, Rawson said
ecstasy abuse is the leading cause of adolescent admissions to Israel's
largest child psychiatric hospital, for example.

Amateur chemists who concoct club drugs sometimes make ecstasy with 30
percent methamphetamine content. A dose of GHB, a popular liquid club drug
measured by the capful, can contain from a half-gram to five grams of
chemical. "These are all manufactured by chemists who really don't know
what they're making. You really are taking unknown doses," Rawson said.

Club drugs are new enough that information about their long-term health and
neurological effects is only beginning to shape up, he said. But it's
obvious that the drugs aren't benign, he said. Ecstasy, for example, seems
to create brain damage very similar to its cousin chemical,
methamphetamine. Whether the damage heals when use is discontinued isn't
yet known.

For young people looking for fun, health concerns may be overpowered by the
heady atmosphere and friendly philosophy of raves, said Eric Martin, a drug
treatment expert who has studied raves.

"In a way, raves are like the '60s all over again," Martin said. "There are
some aspects of raves that aren't all bad."

Fliers for raves often promote peace, love, unity and respect, Martin said.
Fliers may advertise a rave as alcohol-free, but closer examination shows
highlighted initials of common club drugs and slang that signals that drug
use is acceptable.

Some fliers even advertise the presence of a group called "Dance Safe,"
whose mission is to test the purity of ecstasy tablets, Martin said.

Dr. Michael Leeds, a Eugene psychologist, said raves appeal to young
teen-agers - a big concern for families.

Leeds has interviewed rave-goers and found that many consider the parties a
transition from youth to early adulthood. He also found that some
rave-goers have been alarmed by seeing others suffering seizures or
becoming incoherent under the influence of club drugs.

Leeds advises parents to speak openly with children about their own
experiences with drugs and alcohol to convey their concerns about
children's safety and the potential long-term damage of drugs.

Ideally, the discussion would be part of a continuous sharing of values
about where the parents stand on the issue, how children take their place
in a community, personal responsibility, sexuality and other topics, he said.

"Don't lie to your kids. That's super-destructive. That's going to ruin
your relationship," he said.

Club Drugs

Ecstasy"MDMA: A stimulant-hallucinogen. Increases feelings of well-being
and sociability. Heightens sensitivity to sensory input. Has become a
staple at raves. Increases heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature.
Causes dehydration. Can damage kidneys and liver. Harms memory, learning,
intelligence. Also called "E," "X," "XTC."

Ketamine: A disassociative-anesthesic chemically similar to PCP, it causes
users to hallucinate, feel disconnected from their bodies. Side effects
include muscle spasms, dizziness, slurred speech, anxiety, memory loss.
Also called "K," "Special K," "Vitamin K."

GHB: A hypnotic-depressant, it can be a date-rape drug. A respiratory
depressant, it is very dangerous when used with alcohol. Black market
dosages vary widely, adding to hazards of using it. Available as
floor-stripper chemical. Another form, GBL, is marketed as equipment
cleaner and health aid. Creates euphoria, energy, optimism. Side effects
are exhaustion, insomnia, amnesia, depression. Also called GBH for "great
bodily harm," "Liquid X," "Liquid E."

Rohypnol: The leading date-rape drug, it is a depressant that intoxicates
at low doses, particularly when used with alcohol. Amnesia is a common side
effect. Also called roofies, rophies, roches.

Others: LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine and alcohol are other common drugs
of abuse at all-night trance-dance events. More information is available at
www.doitnow.org and www.clubdrugs.org.

- - National Institute on Drug Abuse, Do It Now Foundation