WHEREAS, “Raves” are a form of dance and recreation that are held in locations with fast-paced high-tech entertainment, and often, the use of drugs; and typically night clubs, bars, parties and raves attract teenagers, college students, and young adults who may risk their health in the interest of a good time; and substances such as MDMA, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and LSD, being collectively referred to as “Club Drugs,” have gained popularity with young people in recent years at these club scenes; and

WHEREAS, MDMA (Ecstasy) is a Schedule I synthetic, psychoactive drug possessing stimulant and hallucinogenic properties, and users are at risk of experiencing severe dehydration or exhaustion, nausea, hallucinations, chills, sweating, increased body temperature, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, blurred vision, and permanent brain damage that may manifest itself in depression, anxiety, memory loss, and other neuropsychotic disorders; and MDMA overdoses can be fatal; and MDMA use has increased by over 500 percent in the past five years and the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for MDMA rose dramatically from 68 in 1993 to 1,142 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a central nervous system depressant abused for its ability to produce euphoric and hallucinatory states and its alleged ability to release a growth hormone and stimulate muscle growth, can produce drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression, and coma; and GHB, in liquid or white powdered form, is taken orally and is frequently combined with alcohol; and abusers include high school and college students and rave party attendees who use GHB for its intoxicating effects; and several cases have documented the use of GHB to incapacitate women for the commission of sexual assault; and in 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory declaring GHB unsafe and illicit except under FDA-approved, physician-supervised protocols, and in March 2000, GHB was placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for GHB rose dramatically from 55 in 1994 to 1,282 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Ketamine Hydrochloride, a general anesthetic for human and veterinary use, produces effects similar to PCP with the visual effects of LSD and can affect the senses, judgment, and coordination for 18 to 24 hours; and Ketamine sold on the streets comes from diverted legitimate supplies and is snorted, placed in alcoholic beverages, or smoked in combination with marijuana; and the incidents of abuse are increasing and appear in reports of rave parties attended by teenagers; and Ketamine was placed in Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act in August 1999; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for Ketamine rose dramatically from 19 in 1994 to 209 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Flunitrazepam, which is marketed under the brand name Rohypnol and commonly known as “roofies”, belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs and has never been approved for medical use in the United States; however, it is legally prescribed in over 50 other countries and is widely available in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe for the treatment of insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic. Therefore, it was placed into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act in 1984 due to international treaty obligations and remains under that classification. Flunitrazepam causes partial amnesia, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of motor control, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion and gastrointestinal disturbances and can result in physical dependence; and it has become widely known for its use as a date-rape drug and is abused by high school and college students, street gang members, rave party attendees, and heroin and cocaine abusers; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for Flunitrazepam rose dramatically from 13 in 1994 to 623 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogen known to man and physical reactions to LSD may include dilated pupils, lowered body temperature, nausea, "goose bumps," profuse perspiration, increased blood sugar, and rapid heart rate, visual distortions, extreme mood changes, impaired perception of depth, time, movements, color, sound, touch and the user's own body image; and, under the influence of LSD, the ability to make sensible judgments and perceive common dangers is impaired, making the user susceptible to personal injury and a threat to others if attempting to drive a car or operate machinery. The effects of higher doses last for 10 to 12 hours and the user may suffer acute anxiety or depression for a variable period and may experience "flashbacks” which are recurrences of the effects of LSD, days or even months after taking the last dose; and

WHEREAS, off-duty uniformed law enforcement officers are being hired by rave and club drug promoters as a purported security measure, and the presence of these officers lends a perception of legitimacy to these establishments; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 107th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, calls on all governments to be aware of the permeation of abuse of MDMA and “Club Drugs” into the social culture of predominantly young people and to take aggressive countermeasures to combat this trend in their respective areas of jurisdiction through effective investigative methods and legislative applications; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon all government and community leaders to bring the issues associated with abuse of MDMA and “Club Drugs” to a high priority level by educating the public on the health risks; by supporting increased legislative penalties; by facilitating law enforcement training; and by prohibiting the posting of law enforcement sentries at known “Rave Clubs”, thereby portraying a false sense of legitimacy and security.