Published On: 2000-04-04
Source: Edmonton Sun (U of A Microfiche)
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| Photo caption: Pagliaro (Not just ecstasy) |
The organizer of a weekend rave that saw six kids taken to hospital says he will bar youths under 16 years of age from his massive dance parties. But Keith Rubuliak blames media "sensationalism” for creating a trumped-up moral panic over raves and the use of the street drug known as ecstasy – making it harder for him to book venues for future events.
“I just got off the phone with (Northlands Sportex),” he said. The city-owned facility hosted the Ascension 2000 rave over the weekend, where six teens collapsed.
“They’re telling me they’re not happy with what they’re reading in the paper, that they’re getting calls from city council. They say they have to review their (rave) policy.”
The Royal Alexandria Hospital refused comment on the conditions of any of the teens, although officials did say one had been admitted. The others were treated and released.
Police said Sunday that all six left the rave wired on ecstasy. Rubuliak insists they suffered epileptic fits sparked by an intense strobe-light show.
“It was a big fluke," he said. "Nobody can point a link between the drug ecstasy and seizures."
Dr. Louis Pagliaro of the U of A’s substance abusology research unit doesn’t buy that. He said the odds against a half-dozen epileptics attending the same rave would be very long.
“What’s more likely is that they took a pharmacological cocktail of ecstasy and some other psycho-stimulant like methamphetamine or cocaine,” he said.
Northlands events manager Paul Lukas said he “finds it hard to believe” that drugs caused those kids to collapse, although he said he would meet with city police to find out whether drugs got past door security.
“These raves have been getting a lot of bad publicity,” he said. “I personally think it’s hype.”
Rubuliak said any future raves he organizes will have admission age limits of at least 16 and possibly 18. But he said he can’t keep ravers from smuggling dope onto the dance floor.
“What’s stopping a girl from sticking a few tabs in her bra? Or a guy putting a balloon up his butt?” he said. “You’re not going to stop these kids from using drugs.”
Most rave-goers who talked to The Sun yesterday say they also favour age limits to keep neophytes away from the drug scene.
One blamed massive commercial raves like Ascension for the burgeoning drug scene.
“As the parties get bigger and bigger, you see more and more problems,” said Mike Peebles. “We’re seeing more violence, new people coming just to do drugs, sexual assaults.”
“We didn't have a single report of violence," said Rubuliak. “Raves are the hottest thing in the world right now, and cracking down on them isn’t going to make them go away. It’d just drive them underground.”
Raves defended – Page 6
The stark truth – Editorial, Page 10
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