" Rave " Parties !

This Queens Birthday long weekend was the occasion for a three day " Rave " party held on a bush property near Grafton, in the state's north.   The police are critical of the organizers because the event did not have a license to operate and when a partygoer was discovered dead it did not immediately shut down - as was their request.

In fact this sort of event is regarded as " illegal " and usually the requirements made by the police are so arduous that it lacks the " fun content " that attracts ravers to attend.  To many people, the lure of the " illicit " is what makes such events attractive.   The police complain that they usually lack any form of security and that medical aid facilities are inadequate.

The real reason that police abhor what they call " dance parties " is that the partygoers use the event to mask drug use.  Alcohol is openly consumed and those seeking an extra " high " supplement that with illicit drugs.  Such events are an absolute Mecca for drug pushers.  It is almost inevitable that there will be overdoses - and as happened at Grafton - one 24 year old man was discovered dead in his car.

That is where very divided thinking comes into play.  The police expect the music to cease and the partygoers to disperse quietly and go home.   To the partgoers, death is a calculated risk when they mix alcohol and drugs of unknown strength and origin.  They paid a three hundred dollar entry fee to the party - and that death was totally ignored as the " rave " continued until the 4-30 pm close on Monday.

There is big money to be made organizing a rave party.   There is a need to provide the right music and hire big name DJ's and spread the word without giving away the location too early. Then it becomes a cat and mouse game with the police.  The police could intervene and flood the scene with officers, but that would most likely end in a riot - with very bad publicity and complaints of police brutality.

This whole question of stimulation to reach a " high " has been evolving for many decades.  We once closed the pubs at six pm on the dot - and now we allow more relaxed drinking laws.  Centuries ago wars were fought to protect the profits being made from the sale of opium, and addiction was an unusual problem in this country.   Then Marijuana burst onto the world drug scene in the western world and it became " hip " to smoke a " reefer ".    So began the craving for drugs that quickly escalated to the point where drug laboratories supply illicit combinations that make a fortune for their connections.

It is evident that we have lost the drug war.  Marijuana possession in small quantities now brings just a caution and this drug is becoming legal in many parts of the world.  Wiser heads contend that a new approach to the whole drug question is needed to take the lure of the " forbidden " from making drugs attractive to young people.

There is little gain in trying to shut down all rave parties.  It makes more sense to provide medical help to combat overdoses and try and prevent partygoers driving home drug affected.  In fact, the very secrecy that saw this rave party held on a country property near Grafton made travel by car essential.   It would make more sense if such events were openly situated where parking would be restricted and access by public transport more convenient.

Unfortunately, this drug scene has evolved to the point where a death at a rave party is simply accepted - and the music plays on !