Scientists have identified a key protein involved in one of the most lethal side effects of the popular but illegal drug ecstasy. Most ecstasy-related deaths are caused by an increase in body temperature, or hyperthermia, which leads to organ failure.

Coroners report: 18-year-old female who attended a RAVE PARTY between the hours of 2230 and 0230 hours at a vacant lot. Mother of decedent picked her up at which time the decedent appeared to be under the influence. Mother drove straight to Good Samaritan Hospital where decedent told staff that she had taken 3 Ecstasy pills at the party. Decedent kept in ER and monitored until about 0800 when she was released with doctor telling the mother that she would probably sleep for 18 hours and wake up with a headache. Decedent unable to get to car on her own and seemed to sleep the entire trip home to Sylmar. Decedent put to bed and checked on every 30 minutes or so by family. When checked on at about 1600 hours she was found not breathing so family called 911. Decedent taken to Olive View Hospital where she was declared dead in the ER at 1701 hours.

In this story the young girl died after being sent home from the hospital. The doctors failed to realize the actual lasting effects of ecstasy and thus were unable to help this girl. If our own doctors don't even know how to handle a drug like ecstasy, just imagine the state of affairs our youth are in. They need the correct knowledge in order to make the right decisions.

As if the drug ecstasy wasn't bad enough, a lot of times the drug has other things added into it. Things like rat poison, sedatives and other chemical combinations. While it is the drug ecstasy itself that does the most damage, nowadays kids don't know what they are taking. They need all the facts and complete understanding about drugs themselves in order to keep from using them.

About 8% of high school seniors surveyed had tried Ecstasy at least once in their lives.

About 5.5% of 19-22 year-olds surveyed had used Ecstasy in the previous year.

Ecstasy-related emergency room incidents increased nationwide from 250 in 1994, to 637 in 1997, to 1,142 in 1998, to 2,850 in 1999.

Some of you may be wishing you'd had this type of information when you were growing up doing drugs. You know this would have made a big difference. Why? Because you were lied to by friends, who were drug users, and by the drug dealers.

This situation is still happening today. What makes things even more horrifying today is that drugs are much more powerful then they were 30 years ago. Combine this with a pure lack of knowledge on the subject of drugs and you can begin to see the uphill battle our youth have in today's world.

"We have an opportunity to reach kids about this drug before they go down the dark side of using Ecstasy. I hope the above story illustrates the importance of this for all of you," said Young. For help with overcoming drug and alcohol addiction or to request drug education personnel to your school or group, go to http://www.DrugAddictionHelpLine.com.