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Recent OD's Bring Raves Under Fire

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS)- The recent drug overdose deaths of two men and a teenage girl who attended raves in the Bay Area and Los Angeles have gotten the attention of public health officials.

Raves differ from other music events because according to Los Angeles County Public Health Department Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding the electronic music played is associated with drug use especially the drug ecstasy which seems to be experiencing  resurgence in popularity.

"Based on the surveys in the early 2000's it became less used and then starting in around 2004 or '05 some of the national and California surveys started to show an increase. The most recent data show that fewer kids really view this as a drug of serious abuse or of addiction," said Fielding.

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Two men who attended a Memorial Day Weekend rave at the Cow palace died of drug overdoses, as did a teenage girl who attended a rave at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in June.

 Some officials want to ban raves at the Cow Palace, but Fielding doesn't think that's wise.

"We don't want to prevent them from being held in public venues because then they just go underground.  They started underground in the 1980's in warehouses and other places with even less regulation," added Fielding.

Fielding says public education is key to addressing these parties and that parents should be aware of what often goes on at raves.

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