WARNING AGAINST THE EVILS OF E

Todd Dye learned everything he needed to know about drug abuse growing up on
his grandfather's Idaho dairy farm.

Intrigued by an electric fence installed to keep the cows away from green
alfalfa, Dye spent years testing his limits.

At first, he would occasionally brush the charged wire with a piece of grass
and receive a mild shock.

When his city cousin came to visit, Dye convinced him to stand in water and
touch the fence.

He laughed as his cousin was thrown to the ground.

"Eventually my cockiness got to me," Dye told an auditorium full of students
at Will C. Wood High School last month. "I thought I could beat this
electric fence."

One cold winter day, hoping to avoid crawling through slushy snow to get
under the fence, Dye pulled his jacket sleeve over his hand and pushed the
wire down.

"I've never been shocked so bad in my life," said the 34-year-old Dye, now a
detective with the Vacaville Police Department. "I thought I was grabbing
the fence but the fence grabbed me."

The same happens when a person experiments with drugs, he said.

"Even those people who think they can master drugs get the shock of their
life," Dye said.

In the past few months, Dye has crisscrossed the city, telling his story to
parents, teachers and students at the Ulatis Community Center, Willis Jepson
Middle School, Buckingham Charter School and Will C. Wood High School.

Ecstasy takes center stage.

Dye said he launched the education campaign in response to an increasing
number of questions and reports landing on his desk about Ecstasy in the
past year.

"(Ecstasy) was unheard of in Vacaville two years ago," Dye said. "Now I get
information all the time."

Although no local statistics are available on Ecstasy use in Solano County,
Dye calls it the fastest-growing drug among 12 to 24 year olds.

Possession of Ecstasy carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail.

The average dose is about 100 mg, but because it's produced illegally,
levels of Ecstasy can vary dramatically from pill to pill, according to Dye.

Primarily manufactured in Europe, the often brightly-colored tablets are
stamped with a variety of logos, including recognizable name brands such as
Ck (Calvin Klein) and Mitsubishi or icons such as Buddha or an "S" for
Superman.

"That's another ploy pushers are using to make it more appealing to kids,"
Dye said.

Dye views his mission as twofold: dispel the myth that Ecstasy is a benign
substance and provide parents and school officials a glimpse into the
culture surrounding the drug's use.

"If you're not looking for signs your kid might be struggling with
temptation, you'll never see it," he told a group of about 50 people
assembled at the Ulatis Community Center last month.

Ecstasy's amphetamine properties can cause involuntary jaw clenching,
prompting kids to suck on pacifiers to avoid that side effect, said Dye.

Users say their sensations are increased. Touch feels better, music sounds
better and lights are more vivid.

"They like that electric type of music ... they'll go to parties wearing
masks filled with Vick's (VapoRub). They like to play with Glowsticks and
twirl them around," he explained.

Dye also warned that Superman shirts, butterflies and clothing with the
letter "E" are signs of possible use.

"I don't want to make blanket statements, but there are things you can look
for," he said.

One of the most popular and dangerous settings to ingest Ecstasy is at
all-night dance parties called raves, according to Dye.

The drug inhibits the body's internal thermometer, which can lead to
dehydration, hyperthermia and death, especially on hot, poorly ventilated
dance floors.

The drug also has aftereffects. For several days after taking Ecstasy, users
say they feel depressed and slow. It's a feeling they call "E-tarded."

Physical effects also include muscle cramping, nausea, blurred vision,
faintness and increased heart rate.

Some studies suggest Ecstasy could lead to long-term brain damage by
permanently compromising the brain's ability to replenish the chemical
serotonin.

"From what I hear it's a very pleasurable drug," Dye said. "It makes you
feel good. But they're not telling you about the brain damage or the chance
of dying."

Dye knows the risks.

He tells the crowd the story of a young man who overdosed on Ecstasy.

"He liked to have fun. He liked to party," Dye told the students at Wood.
"In the wee hours of the morning he said to his friends, 'Am I going to be
OK?' They said, 'You'll be sober by 6 a.m. It's cool.'

"By 6 a.m. he was in a refrigerator at the coroner's office."

In Vacaville, a 17-year-old died from an Ecstasy overdose in March at a
friend's house.

Shawn Spontini's body temperature was 106.2 degrees, according to the Solano
County coroner's report.

The woman who lived in the house where Spontini died now faces charges for
maintaining a household where illicit drug use occurred.

It's difficult for police to track Ecstasy use, Dye explained. There are no
statistics and very little tangible evidence of the drug. Most users leave
town to take the pill - choosing to frequent raves in the Bay Area. By the
time they come home, the drug has worn off.

In addition, police would have a hard time infiltrating the scene because
users are so young.

"It's hard to get informants in this age group," said Dye. "I'm not going to
put someone that age in harm's way."

Local school officials say despite the drug's popularity, Dye's presentation
was their first encounter with Ecstasy.

Janet Jensen attended one of Dye's talks with her 17-year-old daughter
Rachael, who's admitted trying Ecstasy.

"I'm here because it scares me to death," said Jensen, explaining that
several of her family members have struggled with drug abuse.

Because Ecstasy requires no paraphernalia and emits no smell, teachers say
they're focusing on the clothing and styles they've learned are associated
with Ecstasy use and raves.

"There's not a fashion police, but teachers are more aware of it now," said
Laura Abel, a teacher at Will C. Wood. "Once we found out these things were
associated with the rave scene, we went back to the students and said this
is what you're telling us. If you want to be perceived as being part of this
scene, go ahead."

Others say these symbols and styles are an expression of a vibrant and, for
the most part, healthy youth culture. The ravers' motto is "PLUR" - Peace,
Love, Unity and Respect.

Dye thinks it's deceptive.

"I think it's sad that we can take a drug culture and make that trendy," he
said.