RAVE CRACKDOWN

The controversial raid on a Racine rave is part of a larger nationwide
crackdown on events that feature electronic music. Waging war against the
latest youth subculture won't protect kids from the harmful effects of
ecstasy, in fact driving raves underground will only increase the dangers.

Studies on long-term effects of ecstasy are inconclusive, but we do know
that ecstasy can be deadly in the short-term if users are unaware of the
risks. With over one in ten high school seniors trying ecstasy, it's
imperative that today's teenagers are made aware of these risks.

Many youths don't take "just say no" school-based programs seriously,
doubting the validity of their information. What's needed is reality-based
drug education that promotes the ideal of abstinence while providing a
fallback strategy of honest, science-based education for teenagers who say
maybe, sometimes or yes.

The good news is the short-term risks of ecstasy are preventable. The bad
news is that Congress is now pushing legislation that would penalize dance
clubs that provide life-saving harm reduction education and water designed
to prevent ecstasy-related heatstroke, a potentially life-threatening concern.

Sacrificing more children at the altar of the failed drug war is not in
America's best interest. If Congress is truly concerned about adolescents
using ecstasy, it will vote down anti-rave legislation that outlaws the
dissemination of reality-based drug education at venues where it's needed most.

To learn more about the Senate's RAVE act please visit:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/action/RaveBill.html

Robert Sharpe

Program Officer, Drug Policy Alliance

http://www.drugpolicy.org Washington, DC