AUTHORITIES TRAIN TO HANDLE FAD

ATHENS, Tenn. -- Rave parties are the rave in larger cities, but rural
areas are becoming popular as sites for the all-night dance parties that
usually include illegal drugs, according to authorities.

Members of the Tenth Judicial Drug Task Force, along with undercover
operatives, attended a training seminar here Thursday to learn more about
the latest drug trends and the subculture that surrounds them.

Miami police officer Eladio Paez, a representative for Precise Protective
Research Inc. located in Miami, led Thursday's seminar.

He estimates 70 percent of those attending rave events use various drugs
that could be very dangerous.

Officer Paez said a primary danger is the use of multiple drugs, including
Ecstasy, he said. The user often combines various drugs to stay on an
all-night high with the music and lights blaring, and then takes other
drugs the next morning to come off the high, he said.

He added it is not uncommon for date rapes and other crimes to accompany
rave events.

"Information is gathered by working these events," said Mr. Paez. He said
most rave parties are geared toward a younger crowd, while others appeal to
baby-boomers who are reliving the hippie culture years.

Ken Wilson, director of the Drug Task Force, said there have been three
rave-type parties in the area in the past year -- two near Sweetwater and
one in Bradley County. Some drug arrests were made at the Bradley event and
hundreds of Ecstasy pills were confiscated in an Interstate 75 vehicle stop.

The confiscated drugs were allegedly being taken to a rave in Sweetwater,
Mr. Wilson said.

Mr. Paez said money drives the rave parties. An $80,000 profit is not
uncommon for sponsors of larger parties.

Sponsors usually charge $20 or more to attend and drug dealers will buy a
ticket and bring their individual drugs to sell, he said.

Agents are taught in the seminars about the type of drugs, how they are
distributed and drug use signs to look for in those attending.

Often parents do not know their children are attending a rave. Mr. Paez
said the solution to that problem is that parents need to get involved in
their children's lives.