Community Addresses Rave Drug Problem

Recently there have been several high profile arrests reported in the Tallahassee Democrat involving so-called Rave Club Drugs, or more commonly referred to as "designer drugs. The drugs in this category, including ecstasy and GHB, are especially dangerous and can have permanent consequences, such as permanent damage to the brain, the heart and the central nervous system. This is why I am pleased to share with your readers that the new Tallahassee/Leon County coalition, Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Alliance (ADAVA) will hold its first community intervention event tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission chambers at City Hall. This event, the Rave Club/Designer Drug Summit, will feature representatives from the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy, the Leon County Sheriff 's Department, Rave Club owners, and young people recovering from designer drug abuse. ADAVA offers us the opportunity as a community to address the designer drug problem in our community by working with health professionals and club owners to deliver important prevention messages directly to the young people who are most at risk.

The immediacy of this new drug epidemic does not leave us the luxury of conducting a "culture war" against these kids, the Rave music that they listen to or the dance clubs they frequent. As we learn from our country's recent history, when the "War on Drugs" becomes a "War on Music" or a "War on Culture", it is an abysmal failure. By hassling these kids, instead of talking to them honestly and frankly about the health consequences of designer drugs, we alienate young people and loose credibility with the very audience we are trying to reach.

Please support ADAVA and the Rave Club/Designer Drug Summit. It is our best hope to keep kids out of the hospital, out of the morgue, out of jail and in school.