RAVES SAID TO BE SAFE

Pulsating music, flickering strobe lights, dancing and drugs are
characteristic of raves, and the scene in Regina is no different.

The recent death of an 18-year old Melville girl, who police suspect died
of a drug overdose at a Saskatoon rave, has the Saskatchewan Party
demanding the government crack down and regulate the events. But promoters
in the city say being at a rave is no more dangerous than being at a bar.

"Everyone associates raves with ecstasy and drugs of whatever sort but I
myself go to bars all the time and I can tell you that they're just as
popular there as they are anywhere else," said Robert McCallum, who has
been involved in the scene for the past 10 years but no longer tags his
parties as "raves."

"Publicly, no one seems to want to look at raves as a good thing ...
there's a lot of misconceptions," he added.

McCallum said raves are more regulated for drugs than other events or
places. "If you go to a reputable promoters' party they always have
security there that is doing pat-downs, they do weapon searches, you're not
allowed to bring a lot of stuff ... you go to a bar and they're concerned
if you're wearing your hat indoors," said McCallum.

Will Craddock, a Regina DJ and former promoter, agrees there are
misconceptions.

"I'm sure that drug elements are the parts that people are the most
interested in, (but) by no means were they the foundation of it in Regina.
It's always been built around a music element," said Craddock.

Ryan Massel, 23, used to attend raves regularly but no longer goes as often
because of the direction they have been moving in.

"The reason I don't enjoy going is because the drug use is getting very
irresponsible, people are starting to drink more at them," said Massel.

"The reason you go is just because you know that you can be whoever you
want to be, you have fun, it's almost like a surreal kind of place. The
music's better, there's no real intimidation and there's no judgment like
there would be at a bar," he said, noting raves appeal to all ages.

Aaron Hackel, who has worked security at raves in the city for six years,
said if they don't see it happening, they can't stop it.

"Because these kids can take a pill in the car and then walk through our
whole security check ... they just walk in and they're inside for the
night," said Hackel.

Alcohol and drugs are prohibited at raves and all backpacks and bags are
searched upon entry.

"If we do see someone who has taken something we can't do anything about
that by law but monitor how they're acting," said Hackel.

Rick Bourassa with the Regina Police Service said they will police a rave
if they are aware of it, but often the event is publicized through word of
mouth.

"We have to be very conscious of how we deal with this because they are to
a large extent, private parties so thus there are no licences that are
required. We do investigate and try to make determinations as to whether or
not there are any illegal substances being used," said Bourassa.
"Regulating it would certainly allow us to work to ensure illegal
substances weren't present."

Massel said although drugs are available, everyone has to be responsible
for themselves.

"The media loves to feed off other people's irresponsibility and turn it
into a placement issue -- 'this wouldn't have happened had (this girl) not
been at a rave, raves are responsible for her death' -- when in reality the
only people that are responsible for her death are herself," said Massel.