RAVERS INTO 'HARSHER, DIRTIER' DRUG

Speed Replacing Ecstasy, Making Users More Combative, Says Cop

Edmonton's rave scene is stumbling in popularity as hard drug use amongst a
grittier group of club-goers escalates, says a street cop who monitors the
all night parties.

"It was kind of cool to go see what it was all about a year ago but after
they come and see it once, see it's dirty, they don't come back," said
Edmonton police Const. Rick Abbott.

He says there are too many young teens exposed to drugs and adult
situations in the clubs.

"Unfortunately many of the people remain in it because of the dope and I'm
seeing higher incidences of addicted people." But a coalition of ravers is
skeptical.

"In Europe where the rave scene has strong roots and always will, there's
people that have been saying for the past 10 years it's in a decline," said
Marcus Gurske, spokesman for the Edmonton Right to Dance Coalition yesterday.

"And if people choose to do those things, they choose to do them whether it
be at a rave or a high school graduation. If you're a drug user, you're a
drug user."

Abbott said he's increasingly busting ravers for possession of
methamphetamines - or speed - that appear to be replacing the softer but
still dangerous rave drug, ecstasy.

"They're not getting anything out of the 'e' anymore and they want harsher,
dirtier fun and we're seeing harsher, dirtier people," said Abbott.

Speed also makes users more combative than the "love drug" ecstasy. "On the
ecstasy they just wanted to hug ya. On meth they just want to fight ya -
the whole idea of peace, love, unity and respect is out the window towards
war, hate, anarchy and disrespect because the meth just doesn't make anyone
happy," said Abbott.

But both Abbott and Gurske agree compromise is the only way to find common
ground when it comes to proposed city rave bylaw changes.

"We want to ensure that anyone who comes to a party has the opportunity to
have a good time in a safe environment and if they break the law, they're
busted," said Gurske.

Council sent administration's third rave bylaw proposal back for a six-week
review on June 26 to see what other cities are doing. The city's executive
had proposed the rave clubs bar those under 18 and operate only until 3 a.m.

"It's like the Whyte Avenue problem where we have to look at it from the
community side of it and that means rules - the greater good for the
greater number," said Abbott.