| Page: 1 | Rating: Unrated [0] |
A Few Years Too Late
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» ambear replied on Wed Jul 3, 2002 @ 11:08am |
 Coolness: 49275 | (found this in a teen tribute magazine (june/july 2002), the kind they give out at theatres.... a few years too late...)
The Ups and Downs of E: Agony and Ecstasy by Zack Medicoff Summer means warm weather, no school, and chilling with friends. It's also time to get outside and have fun. For Rob*, an 18 year-old high school student living in Toronto, the season also means attending raves. If you've ever been a fan of house or any other types of underground or electronic music, you've probably been to one yourself. Besides the clothes and DJs, raves go hand in hand with drugs, especially Ecstasy, or E. While it may make you feel euphoric and want to dance like crazy you may be surprised what serious consequences this drug could have for your body. "I've done it a couple of times," says Rob. "I never really thought that it could be such a deadly drug. So many people do it at parties, maybe I've just taken it for granted and not really cared." The lure, says Rob, is the feel-good aspect. "It's just like the day before you buy a new car, that euphoric feeling where the butterflies just thrust up in your stomach and you feel tingly all over." There is a downside he admits. "During a trip I feel nervous, my heart beats really fast and I sometimes feel confused." E tablets come in a variety of colours and are stamped with popular comic characters or icons like a moon, sun or smiley face. Pills usually run between $20 to $40 a hit, and can also be ingested in liquid form. The MDMA compound was first developed in 1914 by German pharmaceutical company Merck as a possible appetite suppressant, and rediscovered by San Francisco chemist Dr. Sasha Shulgin in the '70s. The European underground dance culture of the 80s embraced the drug, and by the mid-'90s it was readily available at North American all-night rave parties. Dr. Steve Friedman, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto has seen his fair share of Ecstasy overdoses. He says the drug, which in its pure form is called MDMA or methylenedioxymethamphetamine, increases the electrical activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine - the pleasure receptors of your brain. In low to moderate doses, Ecstasy can produce a mild intoxication and a strong sense of pleasure and feeling of euphoria. However, Ecstasy users may experience an increase in sweating, increased blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, panic attacks, blurred vision and vomiting. Coming off the drug (crashing) can result in exhaustion and depression. There is also the chance of strong negative effects like confusion, insomnia or paranoia that can last for days or even weeks. Reactions may be severe and unpredictable. Dr. Friedman says there's no safe way to do the drug, and many people with medical conditions may not know they're in serious risk. Even if there's nothing wrong with your body, anything can happen since no one monitors its quality except the people making it in their basement laboratories. "Most of the time you're not even getting the real drug. It's usually mixed with Ketamine or PCP, and sometimes you're not getting Ecstasy at all. No one really checks to see what's inside before taking them." His other concern is being in a controlled area. Unlike your house, a party space may not have adequate ventilation, proper running water and fast access to washrooms. "When you're in a really hot environment with lots of people around you and poor ventilation, the situation is just so much more dangerous," he says. Since Ecstasy can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature, several deaths associated with E use have been linked to kidney or cardiovascular failure as a result of very high body temperature and dehydration. Dr. Friedman also notes Ecstasy's long term effects like memory loss and increased mood swings. "There's a perception that it's safer than it is, and that's why we're losing the campaign not to do it." Corporal Scott Rintoul of the RCMP's Drug Awareness Service in Vancouver has attended many parties in plain clothes and has met lots of teens that have tried or abused the drug. He notes that Ecstasy labs, which are small in comparison to large marijuana operations, are popping up all around the country like in British Columbia and Eastern Canada. He also notes that chemists are combining a variety of drugs into one pill, making it a potent mix. "We're making huge seizures. At one time Ecstasy was just part of the rave culture. Now it's everywhere like in night clubs and especially at house parties." He believes there should be more drug prevention education, especially since users may not be aware of the deadly consequences of mixing Ecstasy with alcohol or other drugs. "People think it's benign. You have these fun, happy face tablets that you'd never believe would have the potential to kill," he says. "You shouldn't mix any other type of drug if you're going to do ecstasy. Drugs like GHB are really deadly when you do them together," agrees Kim Stanford, a registered Ontario nurse and former chair of the Toronto Dance Safety Committee, a now defunct organization that promoted safe raving environments. Stanford also urges teens who decide to try E to take the proper steps to ensure a safe trip including keeping hydrated, wearing loose clothes, and if at a rave, a safe way to get home. In addition to the dangers, there are also legal consequences to remember. If you're caught with Ecstasy, or in legal terms, possession, a conviction could mean a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail. If you're pinched dealing, you can face from 18 months to 10 years in jail. Being caught creating the substance can also result in 18 months to 10 years in jail. Those under 18 won't receive a criminal record, but can face time in a youth jail. "Experimenting with drugs is a normal teenage activity," says Stanford. "But it's vital to ensure that we all talk about the consequences as well as the benefits, and that means honest education." Rob, who has heard more about the effects of E in the past few months, admits he will likely cut down on his use. "It's like Russian roulette, where one pill can kill," he says. "I don't want that pill." *Names have been changed for reasons of anonymity. Some links: [ www.camh.net ] Information and resources about E and other drugs [ www.clubdrugs.org ] Slide shows and presentations about effects of E on your brain [ www.dancesafe.org ] Safe dance tips and news about club drugs [ www.city.toronto.on.ca ] Resources and links from the City of Toronto |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Unknown User replied on Wed Jul 3, 2002 @ 11:45am |
| Coolness: 13345 | Fuck E , it's bad , fuck speed , fuck buvard , fuck coke , fuck PCP , fuck Acid , fuck that and that and fuck every fucking chimic drugs ...
... ... ... ... ... Yay to natural drugs !!! :) , ok , they DO affect your body , but you won't die from smoking a joint or munching a G of mush ... Yay to alcohol too ... ... I think music in a rave if by far enough of a trip no ? I mean , when you get out , you still hear some funky beats untill you fall asleep ... that's a kind o' buzz ... And yet , that's bad for you , Most of ravers will lose their sense of earring too soon ... |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» PaT_ replied on Wed Jul 3, 2002 @ 1:19pm |
| Coolness: 116520 | *looks around* pcp..hmm?! what..pcp? hmm *looks around*
damn amber thatw as to long to read.... |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Unknown User replied on Wed Jul 3, 2002 @ 1:23pm |
| Coolness: 13345 | Y'know , pcp , the stuff they call acid , or , the stuff they call mesc , or the stuff they use for horses ?
Yuk , I'd rather drink javel water , at least , it's clean ! |
A Few Years Too Late
| Page: 1 |
[ Top Of Page ] |
Post A Reply |
You must be logged in to post a reply.
[ Top Of Page ] |
