HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF LAWRENCE K. MAHUNA
PHONE: 961-2244
OCTOBER 28, 2003
MEDIA RELEASE
The Hawaii Police Department has received information that a “Rave” Party is scheduled to take place at undisclosed location(s) during the Halloween weekend. We would like our community’s parents and youth to be educated in some of the aspects of Rave Parties.
Rave parties on the Big Island have taken place in the past at some of our more remote public and private properties. These late evening parties often continue to the 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. and involve the use of generators and large music sound systems. Unfortunately the partying, music and dancing are also connected to the use of an illegal drug called “Ecstasy”.
Based on information from the Governor’s Resource Guide, Ecstasy is a synthetic, psychedelic drug which causes symptoms similar to a combination of LSD and methamphetamines. The 4 to 6 hour high causes feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, empathy, a feeling of closeness with others and a desire to touch and be touched. Sexual predators will use the effect of this drug to prey on their victims.
Along with the euphoric effects, Ecstasy is also responsible for sweating or chilling, increased body temperature, muscle tension(jaws), increased heart rate, panic attacks, rapid eye movement, fatigue, depression, anxiety, tissue and organ failure, free flowing conversations, nervousness, nausea, pupil dilation, teeth grinding, increased blood pressure, muscle aches, a rash that looks like acne, constant movements, and hyper-excitability.
Effects of Ecstasy are brain damage that affects the ability of the brain to regulate emotion, memory, sleep, and pain. Long term effects are confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety and paranoia.
We are asking parents to help us protect their children. Parents should talk with their children about acting responsibly this Halloween weekend. They should know exactly where their children are and who they are with at all times and make sure they are home prior to curfew (age 14 and under by 10:00 p.m. and age 15 through 17 by 12:30 am).
This weekend, the Hawaii County Police Department will be assigning extra officers to conduct enforcement of drug, liquor and curfew laws.
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