PARTY PILL PUTS SMILE ON FACE OF DANCER

It was a clear, starry night at the biggest dance party of the year
when the 19-year-old student decided to pop her first Ecstasy pill.

She paid $80 to a drug dealer at The Gathering, swallowed the little
white pill with the big E on it and waited for its effects to hit.

The Nelson woman, who does not want to be identified, is one of an
increasing number of people using designer drugs such as Ecstasy,
speed and acid.

She was a friend of 32-year-old Dai Bowden, who died in a Nelson car
park on March 19 from what is known as "drowning," the result of
drinking too much water after taking Ecstasy.

The woman had been planning to have her third Ecstasy pill the week
Mr Bowden died but has put those plans on hold.

She said his death, the third Ecstasy-related in this country, had
sent a chill through Nelson's burgeoning designer drugs scene but it
would not stop people using the drug.

"It's definitely made me rethink whether I'd do it again but it's
still only the third Ecstasy death. Think how many people die after
drink-driving every year."

The woman had her first Ecstasy experience on New Year's Eve when she
and a crowd of friends spent four days partying at The Gathering,
near Takaka.

Within about 30 minutes of taking the drug she felt a surge of
confidence caused by the pill releasing a flood of seratonin (the
chemical released naturally when we are happy) into her system.

"I just started charging around feeling happy and confident and
talking to people. You just feel really good."

She also had an overwhelming feeling of love for everyone around her
and found it difficult to stop smiling.

"I'm sure I freaked out a few people telling them how beautiful they
were. You just want to touch people, their hair and bodies.

"It makes you feel like the world is really good and people are
really beautiful.

"It's all about feeling good about yourself and everyone around you
and just wanting to have fun."

After about four hours, the effects started to wear off. She said she
suffered no obvious side-effects apart from feeling very tired and
having a sore jaw from smiling too much.

The woman, who works part-time in the hospitality industry, has had
Ecstasy once more since then, as well as several doses of speed.

"E's better than alcohol, but the price puts me off. If it was
cheaper I'd do it every weekend."

She said Ecstasy and other designer drugs were easy to get in Nelson
if you knew where to look. She got hers from a work colleague.

You just have to ask someone and "hope you're not talking to a cop."

The woman agreed with police who say the Nelson designer drugs scene
is growing. Most of her friends, from students to business people,
used them, some every week.

The A-Bursary graduate and former school council member said she was
not scared of the possible long-term effects of taking the drugs.

"Life's too short to worry about that. As long as it's not harming
anyone else, it's up to you."

But then she stops herself, perhaps thinking of her friend, who would
still be alive if he had worried more.