'JUST SAY NO' ISN'T ENOUGH

Traditional anti-drug messages are often lost on ravers who should be
educated about designer drugs and the inherent risks, a coroner's inquest
heard yesterday.

"We don't feel handing out information that says, 'Say no to drugs' during a
rave would do any good," said Joyce Bernstein, an epidemiologist with the
city's health department.

Bernstein said ravers who, despite warnings, use "club drugs" such as
Ecstasy must be told how to reduce the risks by drinking water, cooling off
and taking breaks from dancing.

The health department has handed out 50,000 cards listing the symptoms of
overdoses from Ecstasy and GHB.

Bernstein's recent study shows 62 people were treated at St. Michael's
Hospital on weekends in 1999 after taking GHB, Ecstasy and other drugs.

The inquest is probing last October's Ecstasy death of Allen Ho, 20, a
Ryerson student who collapsed at a rave.