RAVE DRUG WARNING

Liquid 'GHB' Potentially Lethal

A powerful, potentially lethal new drug that's becoming a fixture at
raves has raised concerns among city police.

The drug, known as GHB, or 'G' on the street, has joined Ecstasy as
one of the illegal substances of choice at raves, said Det. Steve
Walton of the police drug unit.

"It's used in conjunction with Ecstasy," Walton said yesterday as he
warned of the substance's potent effects.

"It can cause comas, death through overdose and it has no purity
checks."

The clear liquid GHB can be easily produced in a kitchen setting and
is thought to work as a date rape drug, said Walton, but its effects
most noticeably mimic extreme drunkenness.

"It's like the user has had an entire bottle of vodka and all they
need is a cap of the stuff," he said. "It really slows your heartbeat
down."

It can also produce aggressive, violent reactions among users, added
Walton.

The prevalence of drugs, such as Ecstasy, GHB and LSD, at raves makes
regulating the parties that much more urgent, he said.

And the presence of youths as young as 11- or 12-years-old in such a
drug-infested environment should also raise concerns, said Walton.

"Our unit is actively looking at (raves)," he said.

In the wake of a rave in the city's southeast in which one man was
stabbed and two others injured, some aldermen are suggesting curbs be
put on the all-night dance parties.

But other aldermen say it's difficult to control parties that don't
have liquor licences in a city without a curfew.

Ald. David Bronconnier said there's been too much attention focused on
raves when alcohol-fuelled problems at city bars and house parties are
even greater.

Ald. Jon Lord said the concerns about raves remind him of his youth
when adults frowned on teen house parties.

"Everyone was always worried about drugs and people picking fights
even then," said Lord.

He would prefer to see raves conducted in controlled
environments.

"You don't want to ban (raves) and then have kids skulking around in
darkened warehouses," he said.