TOO MANY GAMBLE ON ECSTASY

Ecstasy may not be a public menace on the level of crack cocaine or heroin,
but using it is still a bad choice.

Alarmingly, the drug's acceptance continues to grow in youth culture.
Rolling Stone magazine this month reported that a University of Michigan
study found ecstasy use by American high school seniors has almost doubled
in the past four years, reaching 12 percent.

The drug enables users to party all night, but it also causes large
increases in body temperatures, which can have dangerous results. Some
deaths have been tied to the drug, and potential long-term damage to the
brain is being studied.

As the summer of 2002 continues, young people looking for ways to enjoy
their free time should be alert to the negative consequences of ecstasy.

Despite what proponents say, ecstasy is far from being a harmless party toy.