Sample Causal Analysis #2

[My annotations are in blue]

Your Name
Professor Swanson
English 100:
Casual Analysis Paper
Date

Ecstasy and Teenagers in America

    John used to be an intelligent, talkative, outgoing young man.     He was
doing very well in his first two years of college, and then slowly he just
began to withdraw from school completely.  He used to call his friends all
the time to go out, and he was a lively energetic person who loved to
experience each day to its fullest.  He had dreams and aspirations of
graduating college with a degree in business.  Presently, John doesn't
attend school anymore.  He doesn't talk to any of his old friends, and he
doesn't experience each day to its fullest anymore.  He is not the same
person he used to be and he probably will never be again.  What has happened
to him is the result of the drug called ecstasy otherwise known as MDMA,
which stands for methylenedioxymethamphetamine. This all happened when John
was first introduced into the "rave" scene.  Raves are like never-ending
parties that last anywhere from 5 hours to 12 hours, sometimes even longer. 

    Raves can be found in just about all locations across the country and are
attended by large numbers of youth, sometimes up to 20,000 people.  When
John attended his first rave with some of his friends, the mysterious
atmosphere and all it had to offer enthralled him.  It was by far the most
exciting thing he had ever experienced.  The atmosphere was confusing, dark,
and mysterious.  It was full of life, fun, pleasure, and thousands of people
his age.   The colorful hypnotizing lights flew across the walls and
ceilings blurring his vision with every glance.  People were dancing to the
entrancing music, holding on to one another, and having the time of their
lives.  A few aspects that attract people to raves are the hypnotic
electronic music, meeting new people, having fun, and the liberal use of
ecstasy.  When John started going to raves, he eventually began taking
ecstasy.  Soon, he became addicted to both ecstasy and the raves and had the
urge to start going every week.  The dosage of pills he took slowly
increased from one pill a month, to six pills a week.  Eventually, his
personality changed and it became hard for him to concentrate on work,
school, and things in general.  It got to the point where he slept all day
and partied all night.  He didn't care about his life, school or aspirations
anymore; all he cared about was the raves, his "raver" friends, and ecstasy.

    Ecstasy is one of the most popular fastest growing drugs in America today. 
It is easily accessible to teenagers and has grown to be very common not
only among teens in the rave scene, but also suburbs and campuses.  It is
often used at raves and parties because it enables people to dance longer
and remain active for a longer period of time.  Ecstasy comes in the form of
a pill or capsule and is easily ingested, this is one of the reasons it is
so popular because it is very easy and quick to use.  The hypnotizing
effects it produces can cause many to become easily addicted and drawn to
the drug.  There have also been many fatalities in which ecstasy has been
involved.  The University of Psychiatry is Zurich, Switzerland, has done
research that shows that ecstasy releases dopamine and other chemicals into
the system, and causes the feelings of "good moods" and emotional
excitation.  People who have taken ecstasy report feelings of intimacy,
euphoria, well-being, and empathy.  There have also been studies from the
Human Neurological Pathology Laboratory in Toronto, Canada, which show that
levels of seratonin and ketamine were decreased by 50-80% in the brain,
which is responsible for much of the brain's memory.  Ecstasy use has become
very much widespread, and John is one out of many teens that is experiencing
this growing social problem.

    One of the causes to this growing problem is the lack of knowledge of this
drug.  Very many people are unaware of ecstasy and many never knew it has
been existent for so long.  This drug was developed and patented in 1912 by
the Merck Corporation.  In the 1970's it was used in therapy in which to
create a "psychologically safe environment in which patients could explore
traumatic feelings or memories," said Professor Phillip Jenkins of
Pennsylvania State University, and also author of "Synthetic Panics." 

    Professor Philip Jenkins testified recently before a Congressional committee
and said the drug developed "a politically damaging reputation for giving
pleasure."  And that is exactly what it has done.
Ecstasy has the reputation for being a "safe" drug that brings few side
effects.  This reputation and rumor has spread like wildfire among the
teenagers of America today.  This reputation has sustained for so long
because of the lack of knowledge of ecstasy among people today.  Many
teenagers, parents, doctors, and counselors are unaware of the fatal effects
and consequences of ecstasy, and all of these people minus teenagers are
very much oblivious at how widespread ecstasy has become.  In schools across
America, there are lectures and teachings about drugs like marijuana,
cocaine, and nicotine.  But very seldom does a teacher lecture about the
dangers and facts of ecstasy.  Many teens are bound to go through life with
an unknown idea of ecstasy.  Then, when they later come upon it at a party
or from a friend, they may try it as the possible result of not knowing
about it, and also thinking that it is "safe" since they were never lectured
on it in the past.  Barry McCaffrey, the director of the U.S. National Drug
Control Policy says that, "Many elements of society -- including parents,
teachers, and some police officers -- do not understand the dangers of MDMA
and other "club drugs." Parents are probably one of the most important
figures in children's lives, and many are in the dark about this drug.  Many
parents today worry about their children getting involved with alcohol,
cigarettes, marijuana, and such.  But many do not realize that ecstasy is
very much prevalent almost everywhere and that many teens are both
experimenting and using it.

    Perhaps another cause of this problem is raves.  Raves themselves are not a
danger to our society, but it is the content and environment that is present
that could be a danger.  Raves are where many teens first learn about
ecstasy and also where many first try it.  It is very easy for an underage
minor to get into a rave, and even easier for he or she to purchase ecstasy.

    What goes on at these raves are very influential to many teens today.  The
environment provides a night of fantasy, mystery, fun, and excitement.  And
since large portions of the ravers are under the influence of ecstasy, it
probably can be perceived as a happy environment by many partygoers.  The
Office of The National Drug Control Policy says that "producing both
stimulant and psychedelic effects, MDMA is often used at parties because it
enables party-goers to dance and remain active for longer periods of time." 
This is one of the reasons for ecstasy being popular at raves.  Another
reason is that it has been a long tradition for raves to be linked to
ecstasy.  When you ask many teens about raves, they automatically think of
ecstasy, and many of these same teens go to raves mainly because of the
presence of ecstasy.  Ecstasy at raves is very easy to obtain.  I myself
have been to a few and have been encountered by ecstasy dealers.  I was
approached almost every 20 minutes by someone who was looking for buyers. 
Not only did people who were selling approach me, but I was also approached
by people who were looking to buy.  Many of these people were very young,
and most looked underage.

    Lastly, I believe that an important cause that contributes to this problem
is the producing of ecstasy in overseas countries.  Ecstasy is easily made,
for pennies on the dollar, and most of it is made in Europe.  Time magazine
reports that a recent drug seizure at Brussels National Airport, "offered a
glimpse at just how huge and lucrative the export market has become for
ecstasy, most of which is produced in the Netherlands, and Belgium." 
Nationwide, ecstasy seizures this year (almost 3.3 million hits) have
increased since last year (400,000 hits).  Due to the increasing amounts of
ecstasy coming into the U.S., the Customs Service has found the need to
create a special ecstasy command center and is training dogs to detect the
drug.

    Ecstasy can be produced from anywhere form a rundown barn in the country,
to a high scale expensive laboratory.  Usually, manufacturers seek out
abandoned barns or garden sheds in rural areas of the Netherlands or
Belgium, and convert them into ecstasy factories.  Most often, these small
factories are not too far from the airports.  The people that usually
manufacture ecstasy are professional criminals, who usually work with
mobsters who have the distribution networks to move large amounts of pills
across America.  These people are highly drawn to the large profits: after
setup, the cost of each pill is around 10 cents, and then it can be sold in
New York or Los Angeles for $30.  Whatever the case may be, all this just
goes to show that the drug production in Europe and other areas is involving
and risking the lives of the teenagers of America.

    To get the serious problem of ecstasy use among teenagers under control, I
feel we need to enlist the help of parents and adults that are involved with
children and teens, take a look at the harmful environment of raves, and
also work with international governments in Europe or other areas to help
crack down on the manufacturing of ecstasy.  This is a serious problem that
is growing by the day to which most people are not aware.  Most of these
people are parents and teachers who are most responsible for the education
and knowledge of children today.  Information and dangerous effects of this
drug should be taught in schools and provided at hospitals, and medical
clinics.  Just as there are people that visit certain schools and functions
to talk about STD's, and drugs like marijuana and cocaine, there should be
people that come to these schools to teach and inform about ecstasy.  I
believe that raves definitely should be monitored more carefully; there
should be requirements for stricter security in order to produce a rave. 

    The government should do investigations at these raves such as enlisting
young undercover agents to bust the people who are selling ecstasy, and also
the people who are buying.  Stricter laws and supervision at raves would
discourage dealers and buyers; therefore I believe the demand for the drug
would decrease.  Lastly, our government should obtain the cooperation of
Europe's government to work together to shut down these ecstasy factories. 
Evidently, these are the places where ecstasy is born, why not just end it
at the source?

    This problem is very real, and without more efforts to help, the lives of
the many young people of America can and will be in great danger.  Many
parents are quite oblivious to what could be going on with their children
and what environment they could be in.  Parents are important role models in
the lives of children and this problem should be brought to their attention.
The young people of America today are the adults of America tomorrow, how
can our nation go on without the bright intelligent minds that we are losing
to ecstasy right now?

Works Cited

National Library of Public Medicine.  "Psychological and Physiological
Effects of MDMA ("Ecstasy") After Pretreatment with the 5-HT (2) Antagonist

Ketaserin in Healthy Humans" October 23, 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list
_uids=10989266&dopt=Abstract (28 October 2000)

National Library of Medicine.  "Striatal Serotonin is depleted in Brain of a
MDMA User" July 25, 2000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrz/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list
_uids=10908909&dopt=Abtract (25 October 2000)

CNN.COM.  "U.S. Government Launches Anti-Ecstasy Campaign"
August 2, 2000
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/children/08/02/ecstasy.campaign/ (25
October 2000).

Office of the National Drug Control Policy.  "Club Drugs"
Facts and Figures
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/f_and_f/club/index.html (25
October 2000).

Time.COM  "Its all the Rave" March 20, 2000
http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,40316,00.html (24
October 2000).

Updated:  23 September 2005