RAVES CAN BE DANGEROUS

Boys and girls are flocking by the thousands to all-night dance clubs known
as Raves. They go to party and consume mass quantities of designer drugs,
including Ecstasy or ``X,'' an often toxic and lethal amphetamine.

Despite ignorance about this issue, this dangerous trend often leads to more
rowdy behavior at night spots and causes responsible municipalities like
Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale to restrict under-21 admittance to so-called
juice bars.

We in the drug-prevention and education community are now treating this
trend as an epidemic on the level of crack cocaine. State officials have
determined that nearly 200 lives have been taken by abuse of Ecstasy and
related substances over the past three years.

This problem is becoming a public-health crisis and should be reported and
treated as such.

BERNIE DIAZ, Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community, Coral
Gables