hoptis
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- May 1, 2002
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Campaign to remove GHB
Patrick O'Neil, youth reporter
11 May 2004
THE drug GHB has been stamped "uncool" and Melbourne ravers are wearing the message on their sleeves.
Rave organisers have tackled the GHB problem by printing 10,000 stickers with the slogan "Say No To G".
In doing so, the rave community has succeeded where anti-drug campaigners could not.
The stickers have become must-have wear for ravers, with 95 per cent donning them at many events.
One rave store has even started tailoring baggy, fluoro pants, known as "phatties", with the "Say No To G" slogan.
G.O.D. (Gospel Of Dance) rave organiser Luke Howard printed the stickers because he'd had enough of GHB users coming to his events and ruining them for everyone.
Mr Howard now practises "zero tolerance" at his dance parties.
"We decided to ban anyone that has anything to do with GHB from our parties, and several people have been banned," he said.
"With the stickers, maybe the younger crew will see that it is not the cool thing to do, that other people are against it."
Mr Howard said the popularity of the stickers showed ravers did not want GHB to ruin their scene.
"The response and support has been amazing; 95 per cent of people out there have clearly shown they are totally against the drug," he said.
The stickers are distributed at dance parties and rave-wear shops, and are moving fast. Just 30 are left of the 3000 distributed to one inner-city rave store.
Eleven people overdosed on GHB at the Two Tribes dance party at Rod Laver Arena on March 8, prompting calls for the banning of raves in Melbourne.
GHB is taken for its euphoric and sedative effects, but it is unpredictable and can lead to coma and death.
The Dance Industry Association recently issued a statement condemning the use of the drug.
Members include dance party heavyweights Earthcore, Future Entertainment and Hardware.
"GHB in Melbourne is putting 10-15 people a week into hospital. You or your mates could be next," the association said.
"Its senseless use has the potential to destroy you, your scene, your mates, as well as the future of the events you like to attend."
Lorren, a worker at an inner-city rave clothing shop, said "G-heads" were ruining the scene for everyone.
"The stickers are a way of saying, I'm not into it.
"They are giving the rave scene a bad name and basically everyone has had enough.
"I go to parties because it doesn't matter who you are or what you wear. It is about being together, getting dressed up and enjoying the music.
"G-heads aren't going for the right reasons. They are just going to get wasted and we don't want to see that."
Herald Sun article
News.com.au article - same story, different picture (Lorren from a rave shop; anyone know which?)
Dare I say it, but with my own eyes, a positive article in the Herald Sun on the scene. Probably the most important quote: "In doing so, the rave community has succeeded where anti-drug campaigners could not. "
I guess this is the sort of good publicity the DIA was looking for.