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Show iiffrrtinTniT'Trrnr aeoaaBS MSL'rffn tianaairfiinrrii HiJItop September 28, 2000 can cause tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, cramping, paranoia and amnesia. There can also Hilltop Times staff be more serious immediate consequences. Air Force members who take the love drug may In numerous communities people are using it hate the consequences. Through random urinaly- at raves, he said. Within a short time hallucinosis and investigation, the military is cracking down genic properties kick in and they start feeling at on Ecstasy abusers with a zero tolerance policy. one with the music, as if they can actually feel the Capt. Kevin Wilkinson, chief of Military Justice, beat within their body. Thats when users can dance d said the base has and convicted themselves to exhaustion. With the perception disairmen the past three months for tortion and psychedelic effect, they dont realize eight during All airmen were first term and some their body cant keep up and some abusers have Ecstasy use. d had already been demoted for other heart attacks. Adamson said the loud music and laser lights at problems. Ecstasy (also known as E, X, XTC and Adam) is raves increase the sensory affect of the drug. a methylenedioxy methamphetamine or MDMA, Some people call it a love drug. Not necessarily a synthetic first patented in 1914 as a weight loss as in sexual love, but a person feels at one with drug. Currently, it has no medical indication and everybody at the rave. In fact, theres a desire to is a class one narcotic. Using it is a felony. Its usu- touch people. Not in a sexual way, but just out of ally marketed in pill form, but is also available as some type of sensory desire. a liquid and powder. One dose affects a user for Adamson added the Air Force continues to use four to six hours. urinalysis and other testing procedures to identify Many of the convicted airman were using the drug Ecstasy abuse and his office is working with the at raves dance parties with heavy civilian community to better understand local threats. techno music. Wilkinson said those abusing the He said parents or supervisors who suspect a 18 fit into to the 20s drug early child or age group. is a user can watch for behavNo one here has been charged solely with Ecstasy ior including: use. Wilkinson said offenders are often charged Distancing from with driving while intoxicated or possession of family and friends another narcotic. Discontinuing The interesting thing about Ecstasy is it doesnt regular hobbies or stop with that drug. Whats most disturbing is activities the military members, at least some of those that Hanging have been convicted, were also charged with using around a different hallucinogenic mushrooms and LSD drugs that crowd of people are hard by everybodys standards. Attending all But for the most part, its the possession and disparties or tribution of Ecstasy thats netting airmen signifi- night raves by Mary Galbraith 4 court-martiale- work-relate- all-nig- ht co-work- cant jail time. Military members are serving between three and 15 month sentences, which all included or a bad conduct discharge. punitive discharges Sentences are determined by a judge and in the event of a general court martial, the installation commander must sign off. The consequences are serious and long lasting. A court martial is a federal conviction and thats going to stay with a person, he said. And added to it is the fact that theyve been punitively discharged from the Air Force and that bad conduct discharge will follow them. According to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 2 million Ecstasy tablets are smuggled into the United States from international sources each week. The drug is also produced stateside in limited quantities. The division estimates that users along the Newark-NeYork-NeJersey Shore consume over doses week. 750,000 per w w Master Sgt. Ken Adamson, superintendent of Mental Health and a certified alcohol and drug counselor, said Ecstasy use is an increasing military concern. Its use is a high interest item, he said. As the Air Force recruits new people from the community they can come in with rave experiences. Were a microcosm of whats out there. And a lot of our young people dont realize how harmful it is. Adamson said in the long term users of designer club drugs may experience chronic brain damage especially to short-termemory as it acts a as stimulant and simultaneously hallucinogen. Adamson said the drug stimulates the central nervous system, which in turn stimulates the body and m er Photos and cutlines provided by U.S. Customs web site Ecstasy tablets, above, are about the size of an aspirin, and often have a lab emblem stamped on them. Surgical masks coated with a common, inhalant are often worn by users at Raves. The inhalant is believed to heighten the sensations produced by Ecstasy. over-the-count- er ' their Regularly using or smelling of menthol rub its often viduc hallu Anc spread inside a as we medical mask to If increase sensations while on the drug Wearing a pacifier as a necklace surf itry 0S1 Civil pacifiers are used to prevent Hills agen keep teeth from grind- ing when the jaw is clenched itavry Becoming more emotional which mat'i 1,0' she s that( often accompanies adolescence but Doi look for exagger- Enfo sharj ated scenarios Mood crashes Productivity dif- ficulty at work or school Adamson said raves are promoted as alcohol free parties, which gives parents a false sense of security. He added fliers announcing raves often have a hidden e in the artwork advertising Ecstasy will be available. Those fliers are one of the tools law enforcement officials use to investigate Ecstasy distributors and users. The Office of Special Investigations is the lead office during Hills investigation phase. A lot of the information that weve gained has been through obvious sources like the Internet, conversations with witnesses and subjects of inves- - 16 nr tigations and conversations with our peers in other law enforcement agencies, said Special Agent Colleen Flannigan. She said that while investigation circumstances vary throughout the Air Force, one individual who fails a urinalysis test often divulges information on other military members using the drug. Flannigan said undercover agents also attend raves and may collect information through videotape or physical observation or OSI personnel at raves may do something as obvious as collect license plate numbers of vehicles that have a military sticker. She notes the drug slang of today isnt very cryptic, which also aids investigations. Individuals under Mai tors fro?, ! aJ hund I dest drug often Me: drug a nee like way the I c s1 |