NCJ Number
186487
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 67 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 61-67
Date Published
November 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The rapid spread of the illicit drug called Ecstasy or MDMA points to the need for police chiefs to understand the drug, the need for early recognition of trends in its use, and the actions they can take to address the problem.
Abstract
Misinformation about the drug is spreading and may be the biggest obstacle to addressing it. Some of the drug’s effects, including its ability to change brain structure permanently, are now well known. Ecstasy has most often been associated with raves, the late-night dance parties for people in their teens and early 20’s. The Netherlands and Belgium are the main places for the manufacture of Ecstasy. Ecstasy typically enters the United States in shipments of 10,000 or more tablets sent via express mail services, couriers aboard commercial flights, or air freight. A 2000 conference hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recommended both enforcement and demand reduction as ways to address club drugs. Recommended actions include law enforcement cooperation to focus on distributors, starting with low-level dealers; the use of regular investigative techniques to address the distinct characteristics of this drug problem; and infiltration of rave parties. DEA can provide funds for buys, personnel to work undercover, and monitoring equipment. Police should also help reduce demand by working with youth, parents, and the media. Photograph