An all-night dance party where individuals creatively express themselves.
That's how supporters describe activities known as raves. In reality, a rave is to dancing what a tidal wave is to a pond.
There's nothing harmless or innocent about raves. Activities shrouded in secrecy that begin at 2 o'clock in the morning and are associated with drugs and paraphernalia linked to drugs do not qualify as a worthwhile use of anybody's time.
Ravers — the largest group falls into the 15 to 23 age group — like the way ecstasy, the rave drug of choice, stimulates the senses. That's the goal of a rave: to overload all of a person's senses with sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
How many people in their teens and early 20s use pacifiers? A number of ravers do because one of the side effects of ecstasy is an involuntary grinding of the teeth. Without a pacifier severe damage could be done. Another prop associated with raves is a painter's mask. Ravers put Vick's Vapor Rub inside the mask and inhale the fumes.
According to medical experts, ecstasy increases the user's heart rate and blood pressure and can increase the body temperature to 107 degrees. The drug also affects sleep, memory and the ability to reason. Ecstasy users like the way it produces euphoria and reduces inhibitions, which may be why orgies following the rave party are one of its byproducts.
Ecstasy is a derivative of methamphetamine. It has been described as "meth with attitude." The proliferation of meth labs and meth use in Utah is becoming a significant problem in many communities.
The popularity of raves is a concern to local law enforcement officials. Along the Wasatch Front raves average around 800 people with some attracting up to 2,000.
As such, the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office is taking a zero-policy against club drugs such as ecstasy and has been instructed not to plea bargain any cases involving ecstasy. A conviction for possessing ecstasy will result in a prison sentence of up to five years. Those convicted of possessing ecstasy with intent to distribute face a prison sentence of one to 15 years.
Parents and children need to be aware that raves are not good, clean fun. The way to deal with them is to avoid them and to support law enforcement officials in their efforts to keep raves under control.