Pages: A1 / FRONT
Publication date: Apr 4, 2000
Dateline: Edmonton
Section: News
ProQuest document ID: 252771043
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Apr 4, 2000
Author: Sandra Sperounes, Journal Music Writer
Abstract:
Ascension, a Saturday night dance party at the Sportex, has led to complaints about four-hour lineups and has sparked debate about the use of drugs, particularly an amphetamine-like chemical known as Ecstasy, in Edmonton's growing rave scene.
Apart from the poor organization, Ascension was marred by the 10 overdoses. It's not yet known whether they were related to Ecstasy, a mildly hallucinogenic drug popular among ravers. [Keith Rubuliak] says he only knows of five people needing medical attention for seizures induced by strobe lights.
[Michael Phair] says he would like to see Ecstasy disappear from raves. "I think (rave) management can do a great deal to make it much less acceptable. If they find anyone with it, they can certainly crack down. And if they find anyone who seems to be really drugged out, they don't have to let them in."
Full text:
An evening of euphoria has left nothing but headaches.
Ascension, a Saturday night dance party at the Sportex, has led to complaints about four-hour lineups and has sparked debate about the use of drugs, particularly an amphetamine-like chemical known as Ecstasy, in Edmonton's growing rave scene.
Ten people overdosed and one man in his early 20s was arrested for trafficking, police said.
As a result, Coun. Michael Phair, Northlands Park and a rave group are calling for the city to implement zoning, security and other guidelines to make the events safer.
On Wednesday, Phair will present a briefing paper on raves to council's executive committee.
"I'm mainly interested in ensuring that raves are a safe environment, where people can have a good time," says Phair, who has attended a rave.
Many ravers certainly didn't have a good time at Saturday's party. Two local Internet message boards are packed with complaints about the four-hour lineup to get into the event.
"We're getting so many hate e-mails," says promoter Keith Rubuliak of Def Star Productions.
Saturday night's troubles began about 8 p.m., as 5,000 rave- goers started lining up at the Sportex's main entrance. Rubuliak says the long wait was a result of a thorough drug search conducted by the event's 46 security staff and 10 police officers.
"We apologize for the delays," Rubuliak says. "But given the scrutiny we're getting from the city and the police, we want to ensure a zero-drug policy. We don't want to end raves in the city and we don't want to have any problems."
Saturday night's troubles began about 8 p.m., as 5,000 rave- goers started lining up at the Sportex's main entrance. Rubuliak says the long wait was a result of a thorough drug search conducted by the event's 46 security staff and 10 police officers.
"We apologize for the delays," Rubuliak says. "But given the scrutiny we're getting from the city and the police, we want to ensure a zero-drug policy. We don't want to end raves in the city and we don't want to have any problems."
But Rubuliak did have problems. At one point, the queue was at least 300 metres in length and people were chanting "Def Star sucks" and "refunds." Some people even complained about being "knocked around" in line but no injuries were reported, police say. Two side doors were finally opened around midnight, speeding the entry process considerably.
Apart from the poor organization, Ascension was marred by the 10 overdoses. It's not yet known whether they were related to Ecstasy, a mildly hallucinogenic drug popular among ravers. Rubuliak says he only knows of five people needing medical attention for seizures induced by strobe lights.
Apart from the poor organization, Ascension was marred by the 10 overdoses. It's not yet known whether they were related to Ecstasy, a mildly hallucinogenic drug popular among ravers. Rubuliak says he only knows of five people needing medical attention for seizures induced by strobe lights.
Phair says he would like to see Ecstasy disappear from raves. "I think (rave) management can do a great deal to make it much less acceptable. If they find anyone with it, they can certainly crack down. And if they find anyone who seems to be really drugged out, they don't have to let them in."
He says the city should also look at whether young teenagers should be allowed to attend raves. Ascension was restricted to those 16 and over, but most events allow teens of all ages.
Emergency physicians at the Royal Alexandra Hospital say they're seeing patients as young as 15 admitted due to complications from Ecstasy.
Dr. Gregg Scheirer says the short-term side-effects can range from agitation and high blood pressure to seizures, kidney failure and irregular heartbeats.
"It can also lead to swelling of the brain," says Scheirer. "We had a case of that a couple months ago and that patient had to be admitted to the pediatric unit of intensive care at the University Hospital."
But some veteran ravers think the younger crowd is not necessarily at fault.
"There's a lot of old people who don't do their drugs responsibly and don't drink very responsibly either," says Mike Peebles, a member of RaveSafe, a local drug-education group.
Peebles says he thinks the recent drug overdoses could be attributed to people's ignorance about rave culture. He says a lot of newer ravers think the parties are an excuse to get wrecked.
In truth, raves began in the early '90s as a means for small groups of friends to get together and dance the night away, with or without chemical enhancement.
Peebles says RaveSafe began in order to promote the real reasons behind raving. The group is now at all major parties, handing out literature on the effects and risks of drugs.
Peebles says Ecstasy used in moderation can be safe, as long as it is not mixed with other drugs or alcohol.
"We thought we should educate people about what they're doing to their bodies and their minds," says Peebles. "And how to make the whole experience of going to a rave better for everyone."
Like Phair, Peebles doesn't believe the city should outlaw raves. And neither do the managers of Sportex.
He says the city should also look at whether young teenagers should be allowed to attend raves. Ascension was restricted to those 16 and over, but most events allow teens of all ages.
Emergency physicians at the Royal Alexandra Hospital say they're seeing patients as young as 15 admitted due to complications from Ecstasy.
Dr. Gregg Scheirer says the short-term side-effects can range from agitation and high blood pressure to seizures, kidney failure and irregular heartbeats.
"It can also lead to swelling of the brain," says Scheirer. "We had a case of that a couple months ago and that patient had to be admitted to the pediatric unit of intensive care at the University Hospital."
But some veteran ravers think the younger crowd is not necessarily at fault.
"There's a lot of old people who don't do their drugs responsibly and don't drink very responsibly either," says Mike Peebles, a member of RaveSafe, a local drug-education group.
Peebles says he thinks the recent drug overdoses could be attributed to people's ignorance about rave culture. He says a lot of newer ravers think the parties are an excuse to get wrecked.
In truth, raves began in the early '90s as a means for small groups of friends to get together and dance the night away, with or without chemical enhancement.
Peebles says RaveSafe began in order to promote the real reasons behind raving. The group is now at all major parties, handing out literature on the effects and risks of drugs.
Peebles says Ecstasy used in moderation can be safe, as long as it is not mixed with other drugs or alcohol.
"We thought we should educate people about what they're doing to their bodies and their minds," says Peebles. "And how to make the whole experience of going to a rave better for everyone."
Like Phair, Peebles doesn't believe the city should outlaw raves. And neither do the managers of Sportex.
"Things that happen at a rave happen at a concert," says Cheryl Herchen of Northlands Park. "It's just a different atmosphere, so to speak."
Illustration
Photo: Photo by Francis Tetrault / The Ascension party. ;
Illustration
Photo: Photo by Francis Tetrault / The Ascension party. ;
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