CRACKING DOWN ON CLUB DRUG DEALERS

There has been an alarming growth in the popularity of a dangerous club drug
known as ecstasy. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that abuse of
ecstasy has increased 500 percent over five years.

The drug has made its way into the suburbs. Police departments have made
arrests of ecstasy dealers. And two Chicago-area youngsters died after
taking what they believed were ecstasy pills. Instead, the pills turned out
to be a lethal drug called PMA.

In response to these alarming developments, legislators are pushing new
measures to try to get ecstasy off the streets. U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert's
bill to provide tougher punishment of club drug dealers likely will be
approved by the House this fall. It would greatly increase the maximum
sentence for trafficking ecstasy.

Illinois House Republican Leader Lee Daniels also has introduced a bill that
would stiffen state penalties for dealing club drugs.

We support these measures. Those who sell club drugs need to be dealt with
more severely. And youngsters need to be made firmly aware of the dangers of
ecstasy - or something they believe to be ecstasy - to help put the dealers
out of business, too.