As I was flicking through the Sunday paper on Monday morning at work (a regular occassion for me....I always seem to be trying to catch up with something)
ANYWAY, I came across this EXCELLENT article, on page 4 of the Sydney Morning Herald, it basically goes on to say how there was such a low level of violence and injury on NYE because of the high level of ecstsasy usage. There were quotes from police AND medical staff...i thought it was a breakthrough article and would like to share it with you all.
ONYA AUSSIE MEDIA! Keep it the fuck up! We need more articles like this.
-
NATIONAL
Love's in the air, alcohol nowhere
By GREG BEARUP
At 4am at Bondi on New Year's Day, dozens of bored police wandered past thousands of partygoers with smiles beaming from faces with dilated pupils.
Love, it seemed, was in the air.
There was little for the police to do - not a single fight and only one arrest for a minor drink-driving charge.
Why? The answer, say police and health experts, may be the great shift among young
party goers from alcohol and its associated aggressive behaviour to ecstasy, the love
drug.
"It was quite amazing," a senior Bondi police officer said of one of the most trouble-free New Year's Eves in years.
"Five or 10 years ago everyone would have been drunk and there would have been
fights everywhere. The paddy wagons would have been full, but we had no trouble at
all this year.
"The big topic of conversation amongst the officers on the night was how the
widespread use of ecstasy has really calmed things down. It has changed the whole scene."
The officers at Bondi were easily able to pick out those who had used the drug, with
their broad, dopey smiles, dilated pupils and rapid chewing of gum.
There are concerns that ecstasy may cause damage to brain cells - this has been shown in animal experiments - but the jury is still out on the verdict for humans. UK studies have linked its use with forgetfulness, poor concentration and post-use depression.
In the past few years there has been a shift in the culture of ecstasy in Sydney from a gay and inner-city club drug to widespread mainstream use in the young, straight community.
It has been a change that has led to a significant decline in violence, says Dr Gordian Fulde, the head of accident and emergency at St Vincent's Hospital.
In the 17 years he has been in the job he has seen New Year's Eve turn from a bit of a "bloodbath" to something akin to any normal Thursday night.
At 2.30am on New Year's Day, his staff were still waiting for patients that never
arrived.
"A few years ago the big thing was to go out and get terribly drunk and with that came the violence, beatings and vomit," Dr Fulde said.
"But there has been a major cultural change where the young of today would rather pop a pill, hug each other and dance until dawn - it has certainly cut down on the violence."
At the three biggest parties held in the city on New Year's Eve - Mobile Home at
Bondi Beach, Pride at the old Showground and NY2K at Homebush - there were more than 35,000 young people dancing the night away.
Anecdotal reports from police and partygoers at the parties suggested "a good
percentage" of those in attendance had used ecstasy and other party drugs. No fights or
arrests were reported.
Dr Fulde said the long-term effects of ecstasy were not fully known and people always took a risk when buying illegal drugs. However, the social effects of widespread
ecstasy usewere not as bad as those of alcohol.
"People realise there is another way to have fun other than going out and getting
smashed on alcohol. For a start, the hangover is nowhere near as bad."
How's that? There were a few things I didn't likeabout the article..but overall i thought it was a positive piece of writing. Hopefully we'll see more in the future.
Cheers
mona.
ANYWAY, I came across this EXCELLENT article, on page 4 of the Sydney Morning Herald, it basically goes on to say how there was such a low level of violence and injury on NYE because of the high level of ecstsasy usage. There were quotes from police AND medical staff...i thought it was a breakthrough article and would like to share it with you all.
ONYA AUSSIE MEDIA! Keep it the fuck up! We need more articles like this.
-
NATIONAL
Love's in the air, alcohol nowhere
By GREG BEARUP
At 4am at Bondi on New Year's Day, dozens of bored police wandered past thousands of partygoers with smiles beaming from faces with dilated pupils.
Love, it seemed, was in the air.
There was little for the police to do - not a single fight and only one arrest for a minor drink-driving charge.
Why? The answer, say police and health experts, may be the great shift among young
party goers from alcohol and its associated aggressive behaviour to ecstasy, the love
drug.
"It was quite amazing," a senior Bondi police officer said of one of the most trouble-free New Year's Eves in years.
"Five or 10 years ago everyone would have been drunk and there would have been
fights everywhere. The paddy wagons would have been full, but we had no trouble at
all this year.
"The big topic of conversation amongst the officers on the night was how the
widespread use of ecstasy has really calmed things down. It has changed the whole scene."
The officers at Bondi were easily able to pick out those who had used the drug, with
their broad, dopey smiles, dilated pupils and rapid chewing of gum.
There are concerns that ecstasy may cause damage to brain cells - this has been shown in animal experiments - but the jury is still out on the verdict for humans. UK studies have linked its use with forgetfulness, poor concentration and post-use depression.
In the past few years there has been a shift in the culture of ecstasy in Sydney from a gay and inner-city club drug to widespread mainstream use in the young, straight community.
It has been a change that has led to a significant decline in violence, says Dr Gordian Fulde, the head of accident and emergency at St Vincent's Hospital.
In the 17 years he has been in the job he has seen New Year's Eve turn from a bit of a "bloodbath" to something akin to any normal Thursday night.
At 2.30am on New Year's Day, his staff were still waiting for patients that never
arrived.
"A few years ago the big thing was to go out and get terribly drunk and with that came the violence, beatings and vomit," Dr Fulde said.
"But there has been a major cultural change where the young of today would rather pop a pill, hug each other and dance until dawn - it has certainly cut down on the violence."
At the three biggest parties held in the city on New Year's Eve - Mobile Home at
Bondi Beach, Pride at the old Showground and NY2K at Homebush - there were more than 35,000 young people dancing the night away.
Anecdotal reports from police and partygoers at the parties suggested "a good
percentage" of those in attendance had used ecstasy and other party drugs. No fights or
arrests were reported.
Dr Fulde said the long-term effects of ecstasy were not fully known and people always took a risk when buying illegal drugs. However, the social effects of widespread
ecstasy usewere not as bad as those of alcohol.
"People realise there is another way to have fun other than going out and getting
smashed on alcohol. For a start, the hangover is nowhere near as bad."
How's that? There were a few things I didn't likeabout the article..but overall i thought it was a positive piece of writing. Hopefully we'll see more in the future.
Cheers
mona.
