DEA has launched an enforcement and national awareness campaign focused on Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs. "Operation X-Out" targets the increasingly popular drug Ecstasy along with drugs that have become known as "predatory drugs" because they have been used to facilitate sexual assault. DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson believes that Operation X-Out is important because "the use of Ecstasy and predatory drugs among our youth is fast reaching epidemic levels. Unscrupulous dealers and promoters are marketing Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and other lesser known drugs to individuals who, all too often, do not truly understand their potentially devastating effects," Hutchinson said. "Not only is the DEA targeting these traffickers, we're also reaching out to communities in an unprecedented way to get them involved." Click
here for the full story>> Predatory Drug Awareness Campaign MAR 3--Larimer County, Colorado - Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin of the Rocky Mountain Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration is proud to announce a community-wide Predatory Drug Awareness Campaign to prevent drug-facilitated sexual assaults in Larimer County, Colorado, during the week of March 3, 2003. The awareness campaign partners include: the Rocky Mountain Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, TEAM Fort Collins, Larimer County Drug Task Force, CSU Center for Drug and Alcohol Education, Fort Collins Police Department, CSU Victim Assistance Team, Alternatives to Violence, Crossroads Safehouse, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Bacchus & Gamma Peer Education Network, Colorado National Guard, 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Poudre Valley Hospital SANE Program, Colorado State University Police Department, Loveland Police Department, Fort Collins Coloradoan, NextMedia, Great Big Color, Citizens Printing and Kinkos (Fort Collins). "Predatory
Drugs" is a term used to identify drugs that can be used to facilitate
sexual assault. In the late 1990s, law enforcement noticed a new, disturbing
trend of rape cases that involved the drugging of victims with chemicals
such as rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine. "Club Drugs" has become a widely used term for a number of illicit drugs that are most commonly encountered at nightclubs and all-night parties called "raves." The three primary club drugs are Ecstasy, Ketamine, and GHB. Many other drugs are generally available in the club and rave circuit, however these three drugs are more closely associated with clubs because that is where they are most frequently used. The
rise of Ecstasy abuse paralleled the growth of the underground "rave"
culture in Europe in the late 1980's. Raves began as gatherings of thousands
and revolved around techno music. They originated in England and were
traditionally held in large warehouses or open outdoor areas. These events
then moved into established clubs and were identified by police as "Drug
Taking Festivals. |