AUTHORITIES GET THE INSIDE STORY ON 'RAVE' PARTIES

An innocent looking baseball cap, athletic shoe or pair of jeans might
contain a secret pocket for stashing illegal drugs.

That was one of many clues revealed by an expert in "rave" parties to a
gathering of Hilo adults at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Thursday.

Detective Mark Middleton from the Martin County Sheriff's Office in Stuart,
Florida, also showed music videos that bordered on pornographic and
displayed lyrics with topics as varied as matricide and masturbation. "This
is not censorship," he said when alerting the adults to the subjects of the
songs. "This is just what young people are attracted to."

Middleton, who is also a disc jockey, has been making his presentation about
the "music - drug connection" to adults for more than five years.

"Most adults have no idea of what the music is about," he said. "Bands raise
children today, not families."

The music at rave parties, however, has no lyrics, Middleton said. It's just
instrumental music blasted loud. The teenagers who attend tell their parents
they are going to an alcohol - free party. "Fifty to 80 percent of people
who go to these types of events are using drugs," he said.

The most common rave drugs are Ecstasy, nitrous oxide, LSD and the "date
rape" drug GHB. The animal tranquilizer Ketamine - sometimes called "Special
K" - is also gaining popularity, Middleton said.

"Kids have no fear of these drugs," he said. "They live for the moment."

Middleton held up numerous innocuous looking items and explained how they
are used to dispense drugs or - in the case of glow sticks - to enhance
their effects.

For example, candy necklaces can camouflage Ecstasy pills, eye drop bottles
can hold GHB and chewing gum can be laced with LSD.

"We are finding that younger and younger kids are getting involved," said
the 44 - year - old Middleton, who explained that the parties make the kids
feel accepted.

"There's other people my age or older who are going to rave parties," he
added. "And you know who they are? They're sexual predators looking for weak
little lambs."

The large gatherings are often held in places like warehouses, after - hours
nightclubs, or out - of - doors in rural areas.

"One thing about the rave culture is they are not violent," Middleton said.
Participants often speak about "plur" - peace, love, unity and respect.
"These are the flower children of 2000."

Thursday's workshop, sponsored by the Hawaii County Department of Liquor
Control, was aimed at more than 100 participants, including police,
prosecutors, educators, social workers and reporters.

"If you know what's going on out there," concluded Middleton, "you are
definitely armed to deal with it."