VALLEY OF DEATH

Last year's drug summit had much to say about the problem of dealing with
drug addiction, especially in the hardest cases. But the death of a young
man and the hospitalisation of 10 other participants at a rave party at
Happy Valley, south-west of Sydney, at the weekend bring home the much more
pervasive problem of recreational drug use among young people. At a time
when the Federal Government's national campaign against the evils of
underage drinking has been launched, the Happy Valley death highlights the
difficulties faced by both society and authorities wanting to thwart an
illegal activity voluntarily indulged in by willing youngsters.

The Premier, Mr Carr, has been cautious in his response to the rave party
death, saying he will await the findings of an inquest before determining
what action the Government might take on dance events. However, Mr Carr
rightly stressed the importance of young people realising the dangers of
using drugs such as ecstasy."It's killed people in the past and it will kill
them again," he said. Indeed, ecstasy first attracted widespread public
attention in October 1995 when schoolgirl Anna Wood died after using the
drug at an inner-city dance club. Mr Carr's reaction then was to move
quickly to see that the club concerned was closed.

More than four years later, the burgeoning dance club scene, not confined to
fixed venues, makes effective control very difficult. Unable even to prevent
drugs being smuggled into its jails - up to 70 per cent of prisoners
regularly use drugs in jail - the Government faces a herculean task stopping
ecstasy and other recreational drugs being sold at clubs or occasional rave
party venues. Mr Paul Dillon, of the National Drug and Alcohol Centre, has
warned against a crackdown on illicit drugs at nightclubs and rave parties,
saying the trade would be only driven further underground. But difficult as
it is, and it is difficult with so many willing young consumers, the fact
remains that these drugs are illegal.

Young people will never be able to be stopped from using the wide range of
illicit drugs. But the Government has a responsibility to educate the public
about the dangers associated with their use. Some education programs have
been running since Ms Wood's death. But the weekend's sad events at Happy
Valley suggest more are needed, as well as more effective enforcement of the
law against illegal drugs.