RAVERS, OTHERS DENY THE PARTIES ARE DRUG ORGIES

Don't believe the hype: Raves aren't "drug orgies," a panel of people from
the rave scene told parents and the community last week.

About 40 people attended the informal discussion at the Salt Lake
City-County Building. Panel members, which included attendees, rave
educators, security guards, disc jockeys and promoters, wanted to calm the
"hysteria" they believe the media have perpetuated in recent stories about
the scene.

Raves are all-night dance parties, usually featuring techno music. People
of all ages can attend, although they are most popular with high school
students and people in their 20s.

Although it is impossible to keep them totally drug-free, security guards
said they do their best. Attendees, who pay to get in, are supposed to be
patted down. Age is supposed to be checked, although one parent commented
that security rarely checks her teenager. No open containers are allowed.
Some venues don't even allow cigarettes or lip balm, for fear they could
contain drugs.

It is possible to be celibate, drug-free and involved in the rave scene,
one audience member said.

Raves are about dancing and music, many said. The spirit of ravers is
peace, love, unity and respect.

Many also said they love raving because they can socialize with people who
are accepting. It is an environment impossible to find at school or
elsewhere because young people in our society aren't generally open and
accepting of others.

"I've never found a better group of peers in my life," said Evan Done, a
raver and an educator for the Intermountain Harm Reduction Project, the
group that sponsored the discussion and sends educators to raves to talk to
attendees about the effects of drugs.

Several parents at the discussion said they had attended raves. Most said
they loved the music and dancing. One was concerned the raves don't have
properly trained medical experts to care for attendees, sometimes numbering
in the thousands, who get sick.

One mother said she had two children who have raved. One did drugs and had
to leave the scene to be drug-free. Her other child attended raves with no
problems. The moral of the story, she said, is "you can't compare the two."

"I think we need to be realistic," said Ilene Done, Evan Done's mother. She
said drugs can be found anywhere and young people who want to do drugs will
find them.

B.J. VanRoosendaal, of the Utah Division of Substance Abuse, attended and
spoke during discussion.

"I understand the appeal because I'm a child of the '60s," VanRoosendaal
said. "But your parents are worried about your safety."