News & Columns > News Team > Down The Hill Party Poses Local Risk

Down The Hill Party Poses Local Risk

OpEd: Rim Family Services

By News Team
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Growing concerns regarding the health and safety issues raised by several recent rave parties held at the now defunct Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom Theme and Water Park in Redlands have spread to the mountain area and have prompted a warning to local parents.

These concerns have been amplified as promoters of an upcoming rave dubbed, "The Second Annual 420 Festival", are actively promoting the event at various Internet websites as, "The biggest SoCal celebration of electronic and chronic culture."

Raves are all night dance parties commonly associated with drug use, especially Ecstasy. However, in this case, the use of "420" and "chronic", both slang terms for Marijuana, appears to endorse the use of the illegal drug by attendees, many of whom are minors.

Tickets for the April 18 event are available at outlets in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties causing attendance estimates to range between 8,000 and 10,000.

Nicki Erber of Lake Arrowhead is concerned that promoters of these events are marketing them to youth in our community and that parents may not be aware of this.

Erber, who is a member of the Rim Youth Prevention Leadership Coalition, cited a flyer she downloaded from the Internet on April 8 for the upcoming rave that includes drawings of Marijuana leaves and states, "10,000 capacity – 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. – all ages."

Erber said, "Raves aren't common up here because these events usually require very large, open buildings. But kids who are looking for a rave party can easily make the trip down to the bottom of the hill to Pharaoh's where they will no doubt be exposed to Ecstasy and other dangerous drug-related activity. Our community's kids are potentially at risk and parents need to know about this."

A March 14 rave at Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom was attended by more than 6,800 people and included 41 arrests, most for drug-related offenses while a rave held on February 28 prompted several noise and traffic complaints from residents living as far away as five miles.

Two local 14-year old girls, one from Highland and the other from Yucaipa, went missing after a rave held on February 14. Both girls apparently gave their parents made-up stories about where they were going that evening and were last seen with a 40-year old man. They showed up two days later at a Home Depot in Beaumont recovering from an Ecstasy binge and had no recollection of what happened after they left the rave.

Despite the health and safety risks these events pose for participants and surrounding residents, they continue to take place because they are held on private property and promoters, obtaining the required permits, are within their legal rights to hold them.

Prevention specialists throughout San Bernardino County believe stronger regulations are needed to control these kinds of events.

Some communities have adopted what's known as a Social Host ordinance to address this issue. These kinds of laws hold property owners accountable for gatherings and events that take place on their private property. They give law enforcement officials another tool to deal with the negative and harmful impacts resulting from underage drug and alcohol use.

To get involved in youth prevention efforts on the mountain, contact Colleen Myers, Prevention Specialist for Rim Family Services and coordinator of the Rim Youth Prevention Leadership Coalition at (909) 336-1800.