Text: Information on Dangerous "Club Drugs" Now Available on Internet

(Partnership for a Drug-Free America launches "micro-site")  (390)

The private non-profit Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) has
responded to growing public interest in "club drugs" such as Ecstasy
by launching a new "micro-site" that features science-based
information as well as surveys of media reports, the organization
announced in a March 28 news release.
 
Following is the text:

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PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA

March 28, 2000

Partnership for a Drug-Free America Responds To Growing Public
Interest In Club Drugs With New "Micro-site"

New York, March 28th -- Responding to the increased public demand for
information about so-called club drugs, the Partnership for a
Drug-Free America (PDFA) has launched a new Internet "micro-site"
devoted to the topic.

Featuring a collection of current news reports about club drugs, a
feature about "raves" and up-to-date information from the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) about the various club drugs, the
micro-site can be accessed through PDFA's Web site at
www.drugfreeamerica.org, or directly at
www.drugfreeamerica.org/clubdrugs.

"Over the past few weeks, we've seen a surge in the number of people
contacting us for information about Ecstasy, Special K and other drugs
that are often popular on the club scene," said Joe Keenan, senior
vice president Interactive for the Partnership. "This micro-site is
our way of aggregating relevant information about these drugs in one
easily accessed location for parents and kids alike."

Other Web sites feature science-based information or a survey of media
reports on club drugs, but PDFA's micro-site provides material from
both sources of information on the topic.

"It's clear that people want and need information about these drugs,"
said Richard D. Bonnette, president and CEO of the Partnership. "They
shouldn't have to go searching a variety of sites to get it, and now
they don't have to."

The site also gives visitors the opportunity to provide direct
feedback to the Partnership on the subject of club drugs, information
PDFA can use to keep the site vital.

"We don't view this micro-site as a finished product," Keehan said.
"This is an issue that's going to keep evolving, and our micro-site
will evolve right along with it."

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)