She was in convulsions for more than an hour on the dance floor of the State Palace Theater before she was taken to the hospital, where she died several weeks later. Raves draw plenty of underage participants, most of them from small towns and suburbs and some as young as 15. The fact that ravers typically avoid alcohol is small comfort when drugs like ecstasy, ketamine and GHB are often part of the experience. Ecstasy, the drug of choice, is a stimulant and a hallucinogen, making it a popular fuel for all-night partying. But the side effects, from dehydration to muscular breakdown that can result in kidney failure or breathing problems, are grim.
Experts say that ecstasy can cause damage to the heart and brain.
That's the ugly side of the rave trend, and it's why New Orleans' growing reputation as a national hot spot for raves shouldn't be a source of pride. What authorities need to do is aggressively pursue the illegal activity that thrives at raves, despite private security and the searches that promoters conduct at the door. That seems to be about to happen in New Orleans. The Drug Enforcement Agency and the New Orleans Police Department teamed up months ago to go after drug activity at rave parties, according to special agent George Cazenavette. The undercover phase of that plan came to a head Saturday when federal agents swooped down on the State Palace Theater with search warrants hours before a party.