Six Teens On Drug Collapse At Rave
Published On: 2000-04-03
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
"We had a mad, crazy light show and when it went into a certain pattern at 6:50 a.m., it triggered seizures in these kids," said rave co-organizer Keith Rubulick.
Sgt. Kevin MacLeod of the Edmonton Police Service said the six teens consumed the drug ecstasy before they collapsed.
"The strobe light pattern threw them into a seizure while they were under the influence of ecstasy," he said.
Five of the injured teenagers were sent to the Royal Alexandra Hospital while a sixth, who cut her head when she fell, went to the University hospital, MacLeod said.
Their conditions were not immediately available last night.
Mayor Bill Smith - who sits on the Northlands board of directors - was at the rave from about midnight until 2:30 a.m., after he attended a show by comedian Don Rickles across the parking lot at the AgriCom.
It's the fourth such event he has been to recently to gain an understanding of what they're all about. Yesterday he vowed to raise the issue of raves with fire department officials who oversee safety regulations involving public gatherings.
Coun. Robert Noce said he's concerned by yesterday's incident, especially since he already raised the issue with his fellow members on the Northlands board back in January.
"The board took the position that we'll simply monitor the situation and proceed further at a later date," he said.
That answer, said Noce, isn't good enough anymore. He will raise the issue again when the board meets April 12.
"I'm worried this incident may be just the beginning of something worse to happen at a later date," he said.
Shannon, a 21-year-old raver who did not want her last name published, disagreed.
"You're going put a lot of stuff in the paper about drugs and they're going
to start shutting them down," she said.
"I've seen worse stuff happening in bars than I ever saw at a rave."
Noce said Northlands, a non-profit society, should "re-assess" its involvement with raves. "Does Edmonton Northlands want to be associated with these types of activities - the possibility of drug use in and around its premises?
"I'm hopeful when I raise the issue again that Mayor Smith will provide some of his personal thoughts based on his experiences at these raves."
No charges have been laid.
The Ascension 2000 rave at the Sportex was the largest dance party ever held in Edmonton, Rubulick said. It reaped organizers more than $250,000 in gate receipts.
Well-known British DJ Paul Oakenfold, who earns up to $50,000 a show, entertained the crowd of 5,000. Rubulick said the rave was shut down five minutes after the six were felled. "I don't know if they were on drugs," he said.
"But we had no overdoses. Not a single fight. We conducted ourselves in the most professional way possible and had very elaborate searches. We have a zero drug tolerance policy."
Cheryl Herchen, a Northlands Park spokesman, said the event will be reviewed with the help of police and city officials.
"It's a big issue for our city," she said.
"These raves are very popular and we need to know what's the best way to handle them."
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