RAVE HYSTERIA

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the mass media's
efforts in using the tragic death of the young man at the Happy Valley
festival as easy fodder to sell newspapers and get ratings.

I was at Happy Valley - dubbed Death Valley by TodayTonight-without the use
of drugs. I'd have to say it was one of the best run events I have attended
(this includes Olympic trial events). Security was ample and friendly,
paramedics were also prominent throughout the arena, and the crowd was well
behaved. I think it's unfair to blame the police, council or the promoters
for the death.

Trying to stop drugs from entering any party is virtually impossible.
Tablets smaller than Panadol can be easily hidden. Drugs can't even be
stopped from entering prisons, so how is one going to stop them entering
parties? Banning "raves" is not the solution. At least with raves being
legal there are certain regulations that must be followed by promoters to
protect patrons.

How many people have died in the past 10 years due to drug abuse at rave
parties, and how many have died due to alcohol or smoking abuse in the past
10 years?

Perhaps we should focus upon the harm caused by socially accepted drugs,
rather than single out a problem with about a 1-in-60,000 chance of death.

David Robinson
Tempe