More Info/What To Look For
Feb. 27, 2001--
Police officers patroling Utah's high schools have a serious warning about a disturbing tren in drug abuse.
They want parents to know the drug Ecstasy is more prevalent than you would imagine. In some schools, even as many as one in three students has tried the drug.
News Specialist Jill Atwood has more.
Police say parents can no longer afford to be naive where this drug is concerned. You could very well be thinking right now, "My kid doesn't do ecstasy." But there is a good chance he or she does.
Bottom line--it isn't just found at rave parties or around the club scene. It's now very prevalent in the hallways of our area high schools.
Undercover police video shows a recent rave party in Salt Lake in full swing. Investigators say everyone in the room is under 21 and high on "E."
Ecstasy is different from most drugs because it's considered very clean, and that's part of the allure. Users don't have to smoke it, snort it, or inject it.
Undercover Narcotics Officer: THIS DRUG IS SO PREVALENT IN THE VALLEY AND THE COUNTRY THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO STOMP IT OUT COMPLETELY. THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET CONTROL OF THIS IS THROUGH EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.
And officers are compiling a list of tell tale signs.
Ecstasy use doesn't come with the traditional paraphenalia, but it does have its fashion accessories.
Look for colored beads or candy necklaces, some even have messages.
Clothing advertising the "E" symbol.
Also, pacifiers are often used to avoid teeth grinding,
and Vick's Vapor Rub is used at rave parties to enhance the high.
Kathy Clark/Skyline High School Principal: IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WOW....I HAVE BEEN SO NAIVE. I HAVE BEEN SO IGNORANT ABOUT THIS.
Kathy Clark is the principal at Skyline High School, and has seen a lot of these very things in her hallways. But with the help of detectives she and her staff are facing the problem head on...
Kathy Clark: WE FELT AS A SCHOOL IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE KIDS EDUCATED THAN HAVE THEM IN THE DARK.
WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO THE SCENE AND TOOK A DETECTIVE WITH ME HE DESCRIBED IT AS THE STORM ON THE HORIZON. HE HAS SINCE CATEGORIZED THIS AS A SILENT HURRICANE AND I CONCUR.
Area detectives plan on taking their education platform to as many area schools as possible. In the meantime, the Skyline student body president is joining forces with other student body presidents to attack this problem from the student's end.
More Info
Facts About Ecstasy
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Club Drugs Information
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Tips For Parents
Partnership For Drug Free America
Ecstasy & Party Drug Info Center
Partnership For Drug Free America
What To Look For
- Colored, beaded necklaces or bracelets
- Candy necklaces
- Clothing advertising an "E" symbol
- Pacifiers
- Vick's Vaporub with dust mask
- Trance music
