Politics & Government

Updated: Educating Youth on Ecstasy Use is 'Stupid' Says Antonovich

Supervisor Michael Antonovich came down hard on the LA Department of Public Health this week for creating a card that details ecstasy effects, after-effects and how to minimize the drug's harm.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who represents Altadena in the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, released a statement this week condemning the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s distribution of an Ecstasy Harm Reduction Card.

The card was meant to be distributed exclusively at raves and outlines what ecstasy is, what the effects are and how to minimize potential harms if a person takes it. The card provides “potentially life-saving information,” says the LADPH. It also includes the message that ecstasy is illegal and that it should be avoided.

But, Antonovich does not agree with all of the content of the card. “Counseling young people on the use of the illegal drug Ecstasy is stupid and contrary to Los Angeles County’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs,” said Antonovich. The Board of Supervisors passed the zero-tolerance policy in August 2010.

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The card was created by a task force that gathered at the request of the Board of Supervisors in July 2010, after a 15-year-old girl died at a rave (or electronic music festival) at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena.

The task force is made up of local city representatives, law enforcement agencies, hospital representatives, electronic music festival promoters and others. One goal of its formation was to increase rave safety.

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The Ecstasy Harm Reduction Card is funded by rave promoters.

The card describes the effects of ecstasy as follows: “…may include elevated mood and energy, enhanced sensations, and a sense of emotional connectedness. Ecstasy also increases heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and muscle tension (like teeth grinding.)

The card lists the drugs after-effects as depression, anxiety, irritability, muscle fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.

The card also provides ways for ecstasy users to minimize the drug’s harm. It advises users to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated and to not mix the drug with other substances. It also details signs of an overdose.

“Think it through and know the facts so you and your friends can make informed decisions and stay safe together,” the card states in large print.

The card concludes with the message “Stay away- the only way to completely avoid the risks is to avoid the drug, enjoy the music and dancing instead.”

The LADPH is revising the cards per the Supervisors’ statement.

“Based on feedback from Board members and upon further review by the department, Public Health is immediately revising the card to further and more emphatically state that illegal drug use is dangerous,” the LADPH said in a prepared statement. “Public Health does not condone the use of illegal drugs.”

See the full flier on the right.

Updated: A rerepresentative from Supervisor Michael Antonovich’s office called Patch to clarify the Supervisor’s position on the Ecstasy Harm Reduction Cards that were created by the L.A. County Department of Public Health and were meant to be distributed exclusively at raves.

“Abstinence has got to be the primary focus of our message,” said Tony Bell, a spokesperson for Antonovich’s office. “The only safe use of ecstasy is to not use it at all. The Health Department should [communicate] that message.”

Educating them on using the drug is stupid, educating them on the dangers of the drug is not,” said Bell.


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