RAVERS SAY PARTIES MISUNDERSTOOD

Focus Turns To Drugs After Three Deaths

The drug overdose death of a 21-year-old Ryerson man has put raves
back into the spotlight.

This is at least the third drug-related rave death of a Toronto-area
person since July, but ravers say their events are getting a bad rap.

``People who don't go don't understand what it is,'' said a
28-year-old raver who didn't want his name used.

``There have been three deaths. Think how many kids have died from
drinking and driving during that time,'' said the software developer,
who has been involved in the Toronto rave scene for the past three
years.

``It's a place to go where you can listen to the music you love with
like-minded people.''

A 21-year-old Brampton student, Kieran Kelly, died in July after a
three-day rave in Sauble Beach. He had taken ecstasy and crystal
methamphetamine. A 20-year-old raver suffered a drug-related death
during an Aug. 7 party at The Warehouse in Toronto.

At the request of the family, police have not released the name of the
Ryerson student who died Sunday evening after attending a rave at 501
Alliance Ave., in the St. Clair Ave. and Jane St. area. Police are
still waiting for a toxicology report to discover what drug caused his
death.

The people who put on the event and the owners of the building could
face minor charges if any fire codes or bylaws were broken, said
Detective Jerry Kocher.

``People definitely do drugs at raves, but that's not why the majority
of people go,'' said the 28-year-old raver.

For him, the appeal of a rave is not just the techno or electronic
music. It's the acceptance.

``I felt like I belonged,'' he said of his first few raves. ``It's
easier to be yourself at a rave than anywhere else.''

On any given weekend, there are thousands of Toronto-area people
raving, with the larger parties attracting upwards of 13,000 people.

The drug use varies from rave to rave, with younger crowds often
having a higher level of consumption, he said.

Over the years, the variety of drugs at raves in Toronto has
increased. Several popular ones include marijuana, ecstasy, crystal
methamphetamine (speed), G (GHB) and Special K (ketamine), he said.

With the increased availability of different types of drugs, lack of
quality control and new people entering the scene, many ravers
interviewed say information about ``safer drug use'' is needed, just
like safe sex education in schools.

The Toronto Rave Info Project tries to do just that by providing
pamphlets on how to spot signs of drug overdoses and information about
not mixing drugs with alcohol. The group encourages people to educate
themselves about the dangers of drug use, ravers say.

Police don't generally hear about raves until they've already begun
and a problem occurs, Kocher said.