May 4, 2000

The rave party drug Ecstasy is a growing problem among Utah teenagers. Now police say an 18-year-old Utah boy was high on the drug when he got behind the wheel of his car and killed a man. News specialist Jill Atwood reports from Third District Court.

Joshua Barlow was coming from an all night rave party. He was still high on ecstacy--considered a designer drug-- but just as dangerous as all the rest.

They dance, they socialize, but some also do drugs. Ecstacy or "E" is now becoming the drug of choice at all night raves.

"IT'S NOT HEROIN, IT'S NOT COKE. IT'S THIS DRUG WE CALL ECSTACY. WE APPEAR TO FEEL GOOD."

This 18-year-old thought he felt good enough to drive, but quickly demonstrated he wasn't good at all.

Jill Atwood, Eyewitness News: "LAST FEBRUARY 18-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA BARLOW BACKED ONTO REDWOOD ROAD, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT KILLED A MAN. HE CLAIMED TO BE HIGH ON MARIJUANA, BUT LATER IT WAS DETERMINED HE WAS ACTUALLY HIGH ON ECSTACY."

Don Mendrala/D.E.A.: "IT'S ACTUALLY MORE OF A HALLUCINOGEN, BUT WITH IT COMES A LOT OF THE SAME RISKS OF METHAMPHETAMINES..OVERDOSE POTENTIAL."

Agent Mendrala also says you never know what to expect when taking a street drug like ecstacy, because some pills may be more potent that others.

"YOU TAKE IT WHEN YOU FIRST GET TO THE PARTY AND IT STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME. IT ALTERS YOUR PERCEPTION OF REALITY. AND DRIVING IN THAT STATE IS A PROBLEM."

The man killed in that accident was 79 year old Russell Webb. Barlow's charged with vehicular homicide, along with a couple other charges. If convicted, he faces up to 11 years in prison.