STUDY REFUTES CLAIM ECSTASY USE DECLINING

Re: Survey says ecstasy use declining, letter to the editor by Patricia
Scott Jeoffroy, Aug. 15.

Regrettably, our region's health services department may be out of
touch with what is actually happening on the street in respect to
youth and the use of ecstasy and other drugs.

Despite the statistics cited from the Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health survey, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting the use
of these substances is substantial.

For example, I recently evaluated a drug-facilitated sexual assault
awareness program funded by the Ontario government and conducted by
the Ottawa Police Service in collaboration with three Ottawa high schools.

In a survey of more than 900 high school students with an average age
16.7, more than 56 per cent knew a peer who has used or is using a
chemical drug such as ecstasy, ketamine or GHB, the so-called "date
rape" drug.

Moreover, 81.5 per cent of respondents believed the use of chemical
drugs was a growing problem and, perhaps more problematic, 15 per cent
knew of someone who was sexually assaulted while under the influence
of a chemical.

To be sure, the survey protocol employed in Ottawa cannot be
considered scientific or representative in the fullest sense, but
there is no reason to believe the perspectives of the youths in the
survey were not legitimate.

As well, it is misleading for us to believe "raves are not a
significant venue used by Ontario youth to party in 2004", as Ms Scott
Jeoffroy stated. While the use of the term "rave" has all but
disappeared from street parlance, the fundamental nature of these
events has been reconstituted under other names. Call them what you
wish, they are still fundamentally a rave, complete with chemical
drugs, unscrupulous promoters and dangerous sexual predators.

Michael C. Chettleburgh

Astwood Strategy Corporation

Richmond Hill