A HARD LOOK AT RAVE DRUGS

FORT MITCHELL - When someone rented a vacant Dry Ridge grocery store in
October for a night-long techno dance party, organizers promised to provide
a "drug-free, alcohol-free, Christian environment."

That's not what undercover drug-enforcement agents witnessed when they went
in with video cameras rolling.

They found more than 1,000 people, some as young as 14, had descended on
the rural Grant County town from as far south as Florida and as far north
as Detroit.

Many of them, agents said, were under the influence of "club drugs,"
including Ecstasy, GHB, an anesthetic called Ketamine and another so-
called date-rape drug, Rohypnol.

The Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force made four arrests on various drug
charges, including trafficking and possession of marijuana and Ecstasy, but
acknowledged that represented just a fraction of the illegal activity
taking place that night. Police could not provide the name of the person
who rented the building, but said no charges were filed against the
organizers of the party.

To better prepare for future parties, more than 150 law-enforcement
officers and educators gathered Thursday at the Drawbridge Estates to get a
national perspective on raves and the illegal drugs sometimes associated
with them.

"I first saw an (Ecstasy) pill in 1991 at a rave club in Orlando,"
presenter Scott Perkins told the crowd. "Since that day, I have witnessed
dozens of people experiencing seizures, blackouts, and trips to the
emergency room for advanced life support due to various ... drugs they
ingest at rave parties."

Mr. Perkins conducted extensive undercover operations involving raves as a
detective with Orlando (Fla.) Police.

He took medical retirement in August 1998 after being shot in the hand
during the successful rescue of two small children who were held hostage
for 68 hours by a murder suspect.

"I have seen the philosophy of the raves change from peace, love and
togetherness to money, drugs and violence," Mr. Perkins said. "Organized
gang members use rave clubs and parties to sell their heroin, GHB,
crystal-meth and other deadly drugs. The drug dealers target misinformed
people who believe they can safely take these drugs and have a good
experience."

He said raves are very profitable for the gangs. To keep a high for the
entire rave, which lasts well into the next morning, a raver needs three
Ecstasy pills. Each pill typically costs $20-$25.

Over the last four months, the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force has made
eight separate arrests for people dealing or possession of club drugs. The
arrests led the confiscation of 200 Ecstasy pills.

"We are seeing a definite increase in Ecstasy," said strike force Director
James Paine. "but it's hard to say if raves are more popular. For every one
we hear about, I believe there are three or four we never hear about."