FLIRTING WITH DANGER AT RAVES

Police in B.C. have growing concerns about unregulated raves.

"These underground raves can be extremely dangerous for everyone," says
Cpl. Scott Rintoul of the RCMP drug awareness unit.

"We support open, transparent and regulated raves [such as those held in
Vancouver and Richmond]," he said.

"But the underground or the small house-party raves do not have the
safeguards of security staff, first-aid attendants and police. They pose a
greater danger."

Four young people have died in B.C. in recent years after overdosing on
ecstasy, a popular rave drug.

There's also been some violence at unregulated raves.

Last weekend in Surrey, there was a drive-by shooting at a billiard hall at
76th Avenue near the King George Highway.

At about 3:40 a.m., a gunman fired nine rounds at the building. Because the
300 ravers attending were all inside, no one was injured.

Richmond council decided last month to regulate raves.

After an oversold rave caused a ruckus April 1, some members of council
wanted to crack down on raves, then opted instead for regulation.

Promoters must apply to hold their event, pay a $100 fee, meet fire, health
and sound-proofing regulations and pay the overtime for having police
available.

There must be first aid, free drinking water and a licensed security firm
on site checking for drugs and weapons.

"We didn't want to stop the fun -- we just wanted things to be safe," said
Richmond RCMP Sgt. Willy Laurie.

Drug overdoses and deaths are the main police concern.

Last March, a 21-year-old youth collapsed and died on the floor of a New
Westminster rave. He had taken two hits of ecstasy and three points of
methamphetamine ("speed") over six hours.

Although deaths from ecstasy account for a tiny fraction of the number of
drug-related deaths in B.C., police are growing concerned as the popularity
of raves increases and attracts younger teens.

Police worry that the younger crowd is often not well informed about the
dangers of taking unknown substances at unknown strengths.

"We're seeing the average age of kids at raves dropping from 20 to 16,"
says Rintoul.

"Why are they out all night? Where are their parents?"

The increase in ecstasy deaths -- nine last year -- in Ontario has resulted
in an inquest into the death of victim Allan Ho.

It opened Wednesday in Toronto and has a broad mandate to look at the
entire urban rave scene.