ECSTASY FLIER WILL HELP TO FURTHER EDUCATE RAVERS ABOUT THE DRUG

According to an International Programs Center, U.S. Census Bureau
report, the world population in 2009 was 6.8 billion.

Out of those 6.9 billion people in 2009, 6.4 million had tried
Ecstasy, according to Ecstasy statistics on Ecstasyeffects.net. The
most current world population is a little higher than 6.9 billion
people, and it's most likely the number of people who have tried
Ecstasy has boomed.

Being a fast-paced city full of party-goers, Los Angeles and the
surrounding cities are home of some of the biggest electronic music
festivals, often referred to as "raves," whose audiences are fully
equipped with party drugs.

Although cocaine, alcohol, marijuana and even LSD are often the drugs
of choice among festival attendees, Ecstasy is by far the most
prominent, which - for some of you-is old news.

The Electric Daisy Carnival - a two-day rave usually hosted in June
at several locations, including the Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum-brought in the largest audience at a Los Angeles rave yet,
hosting 185,000 total over the two days. However, controversy about
whether or not the L.A. Coliseum should continue to host raves
emerged when a 15-year-old EDC attendee died of an Ecstasy overdose
on the second day of the festival.

Tedd DeStefano - Coliseum manager and paid promoter for popular rave
hosting company Insomniac Inc. - has stated that if the Los Angeles
City Council agrees to allow the Coliseum to continue hosting raves
in the future, the fifteenth annual EDC will take place at the
Coliseum this upcoming June. But, here's the catch: In spite of the
lamented death of the 15-year-old girl at EDC last June, the county
Public Health Department has created fliers warning "ravers" of the
risks of taking Ecstasy.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich urged that the
Public Health Department revise the flier, arguing that "counseling
young people on the use of the illegal drug Ecstasy is stupid and
contrary to Los Angeles County's zero-tolerance policy on drugs," As
stated in a Los Angeles Times article.

Now, the issue of whether or not the flier does promote drug use can
be compared to that of promoting abstinence or providing further sex
education for safety measures.

As with sex, people - especially the youth - will engage in drug use
regardless of what they are advised. However, if that is the case, we
can at least educate those who aren't fazed by the risks of Ecstasy
about how to be safe while taking the drug. There's rarely anything
wrong with a little education.

Also, the flier begins by explaining the composition of Ecstasy,
warning that "[Ecstasy] is often cut with other substances or more
dangerous drugs, you can never be sure what you're really getting."
It then proceeds to list its emotional and physical effects and
explains "how to minimize potential harms." Under this section, the
flier gives recommendations to people on Ecstasy such as: "let your
body cool and rest [and] sip or take small gulps of water." Under the
same section, the flier gives signs of overdoses, urging to "seek
medical help if you or your friends experience even just one sign."

In no way are these suggestions encouraging the use of Ecstasy. In
fact, by elaborating on Ecstasy safety measure, the flier has high
chances of intimidating the vast majority of taking the substance.
Look at it this way: When your mother or father sat you down, shook
her index finger in your face while saying "don't do drugs," what did
you do? Some kids fake obedience and comply with their parents, and
others roll their eyes and deludingly agree.

Whatever the reaction, most kids will "do drugs," whether it's merely
the "gateway drugs" or more dangerous ones, like Ecstasy. And - if
this is the case - our society must come to terms with the rise of
experimentation with Ecstasy and assess the situation by providing
further education about the drug. If promoting drug abstinence is
already proving to be ineffective, another approach must be taken.