POLICE TARGET CLUB DRUGS, PARTIES

Chicago police on Friday warned young people against the use of so-called
"club drugs" such as GHB, Ecstasy and nitrous oxide that are seeing an
upswing in popularity in the Chicago area, particularly at rave parties.

Police said they recently broke up two raves--after-midnight parties in
warehouses, factories, vacant churches and apartments--in the Bucktown
community. At each party, police seized several canisters of nitrous oxide
(also known as laughing gas), an inhalant sold to partygoers in balloons.

Earlier this month, police investigating a complaint that a Southwest Side
man was dealing drugs found more than 100 gallons of GHB (gamma
hydroxybutyrate, known as a date-rape drug) in his basement laboratory.

Local and federal authorities have seized 72,000 Ecstasy (MDMA) pills this
year, up from 11 pills last year, Chicago Police Narcotics Cmdr. Philip
Cline said.

Although there have not been any known fatalities locally from use of GHB
or nitrous oxide, Cline said 32 people have died across the country since
1995.

"These parties are very dangerous," Shakespeare District Cmdr. Joseph
Villarreal said. "We have seen kids unconscious at rave parties."

Problems arise, the commanders said, because young people drink before
going to raves, where they take drugs such as nitrous oxide, which deprives
the brain of oxygen; GHB, a central nervous system depressant that can
cause seizures, coma and death; and Ecstasy, which can cause depression and
anxiety.

Police have arranged to have unconscious partygoers taken to hospitals and
have arrested party organizers.

The commanders are investigating whether raves are organized by a group of
people who know each other, possibly to sell drugs. Police have recovered
thousands of dollars at the raves, Villarreal said.