THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

Richmond Has Its Own Stories To Tell About The Drug

At the end of the day, there's nothing like the feel of pounding bass to
make the stress go away.

Whether you want techno, trance or house music, you'll find it if you slip
into the Slip, Shockoe Bottom or anywhere there are a DJ and a turntable.

For those looking to make the experience sweeter, the candy - Ecstasy - is
out there. But this sweet shop isn't open to everyone. Admittance is
granted to those whose eyes are open, whose face is familiar and whose
mouth mixes the right chords.

And money isn't the ultimate ticket, because how you look and how you act
are scrutinized at the door by those selling Ecstasy.

This may be one reality, but some area club owners say there is another.

Aside from playing chaperon and beefing up security, nightclub owners and
managers said they have few tools at their disposal to stop or deter drug
use in their clubs. Nonnegotiables such as a dress code, age limit and
banning clubgoers who appear drunk or on their way there help filter the
crowd, but people do get by.

And sometimes, they're dealers selling E.

"I started by just going to clubs that I knew had techno nights," a
28-year-old former Ecstasy user said. "From there it was as simple as
mingling and making friends. At every function there are at least one or
two fliers for other parties. Go to a couple of them and you're 'in.' Your
face is known and people trust you. The key is to play it cool and be
comfortable, not nervous or too stiff.

"Scoring E and buying is all about trust," he said. "Dealers are not
stupid. They are very conscious of who they sell to. It's because of the
Drug Enforcement Agency and such that they need to be selective."

And who that buyer is is no longer restricted to a specific gender, race or
age group, said Detective Michael Bohannon of the Richmond Police
Department. "Ecstasy is out there, for anyone and everyone," he said.

According to those knowledgeable about the drug, virtually anyone who
looked right, acted right and knew the right people could walk into almost
any club and be "rolling" on Ecstasy for the next four to six hours. From
just one pill.

Ecstasy, which was created in the 1970s as an appetite suppressant,
heightens the senses, making the club lights brighter and the beats
stronger. But after a while, the high doesn't last as long and users need
to take more pills to reach the same heights, Bohannon said.

The long-term physical damage caused by Ecstasy does little to warrant the
use of the drug. Even short-term exposure to Ecstasy can lead to negative
effects.

Some users experience a rise in body temperature and changes in heart rate.
Long-term use can result in damage to critical brain cells that use the
transmitter substance serotonin, according to Dr. Alan Leshner, who was
interviewed for a PBS "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" special on Ecstasy
that aired July 30.

"People are now developing a tolerance to Ecstasy," Bohannon said. "Whereas
people used to take two to three pills per night, that number can now be
upward of 13 to get the same effects. People become dependent on it to have
a good time. They begin to need it to come out of their shell, to dance and
have fun."

Ecstasy pills go for $20 to $70 each, depending on the dealer, according to
the PBS special, and are stamped with designer logos, cartoon characters or
other status symbols.

Stereotypically, its dealers can be spotted in upscale clothing, fitted
caps with the bill facing backward and thick gold chains or chewing on neon
glow sticks. They tend to flock to techno nights because "most people who
roll on Ecstasy are into the techno scene, which emphasizes strong beats,
loud bass and an overall sound that is easy to dance to," said the former user.

Ecstasy tends to make users very affectionate and energetic, kicking the
party up a notch.

"Clubs are stereotypically seen as drug havens because of places like D.C.,
New York City and California," said Dan Fogazzi, owner of Shockoe Bottom's
Catch 22, which plays Top 40 music. "The media gave a lot of coverage to
incidents out there. From there, people generalized. They assumed that if
drugs were sold in clubs elsewhere, they would be available in Richmond."

Recently, that assumption seemed to prove true because the Virginia
Alcoholic Beverage Control Department and area law enforcement officials
have been cracking down on drug use in Richmond clubs.

An investigation by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Department and
Richmond and state police led to the revocation of the licenses of three
clubs to sell alcoholic beverages. The ABC board concluded that the clubs
violated a law that prohibits such licenses for establishments that become
a meeting place for the sale and use of drugs.

An owner of one of the clubs, Cafine's, at Fourth and Grace streets, was
among 12 men charged with distributing drugs, but prosecutors withdrew the
charge against him. Seven of the 12 were convicted, two others were
acquitted, one man committed suicide and the final suspect is a fugitive.

The owner of Casablanca, at 6 E. Grace St., surrendered his licenses to
sell alcohol, but the owners of Cafine's and Fahrenheit Restaurant and Club
in Shockoe Bottom, the third club involved in the investigation, are
challenging the license revocations. Cafine's is out of business because
the landlord evicted the owners.

Area clubs say they have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs.
Things can happen, however.

"Preventing drug use in your club is about educating yourself for the
warning signs of people who are using drugs within a club setting," said
Jerry Burd, former general manager at Twisters, the West Grace Street club
that closed in July.

This includes watching for overly aggressive people and those who are
already intoxicated, owners said. Those people are thrown out - or never
let in. Overall, Fogazzi sees safety as a team effort.

Just as important as having attentive front-line security is drawing the
right crowd. As a result, managers are doing more to target specific crowds
while maintaining the club's safety and sass.

"I think marketing plays a huge role in all this. By catering to an upscale
crowd, we avoid a lot of that," said Orlando Robertson, owner and manager
of Main Street's After Six, which plays R&B music. "The upscale crowd tends
to be older and while they may participate in the use of drugs, they are
quieter about it, making it less obvious. They realize what they have to lose."

Because the club scene is so fickle - one week you're hot, the next you're
not - owners and managers have to be meticulous about maintaining a
positive image. But nighttime seems to bring out the uninhibited side of
people, which can threaten that image.

"Because nightclubs are the hangout for nocturnal, festive activity, you
will have inherent problems," said Tony Fernandez, a Richmond nightclub DJ.
"The nightclub business has a shady reputation, there's no denying that,
but not all nightclubs are bad."

Despite recent events, many area club patrons remain confident that their
favorite clubs are safe and reliable places to dance the night away. But no
club is impenetrable, said 21-year-old Kayla Thomas, a regular clubgoer.

"I think that security keeps an eye out for troublemakers in general. In
doing that, I'm sure they weed out all the amateur drug dealers. But I also
believe that the best will pass the test and walk right in the door."

Times-Dispatch staff writer Alan Cooper contributed to this report.