It’s not jigging or rolling; it’s Ecstasy, a dangerous drug

By Laurel Casselman, Moline | Sunday, July 06, 2008

As a young adult, just turning 21, I must say that there are days when I just feel overwhelmed and turn to alcohol. Just a couple of drinks to wind down and try to release some stress. Even after admitting this it truly hurts me to see many young people, including a majority of people I consider very close to me, using pills as a way to relax and calm themselves.

You can call it jigging, rolling, or just dumb in my opinion, but these all refer to the drug Ecstasy. This drug is often called the peace and love drug and is promoted in songs which are made popular by well-known rappers of today. I remember just a few years back when this drug was just beginning to be discussed on a national level. I would never imagine that this would have grown into such a trend.

Ecstasy, which usually provides a three to four hour high, can cause things like paranoia, liver, kidney and even heart problems. Following the high, it is not uncommon for users to go through deep depression and irritability.

I believe, as a community, we need to work together to promote awareness against this drug.

Laurel Casselman

Moline