FORGET alcohol, today’s schoolies are going for a cheaper option — ecstasy pills.

The well-known party drugs have well and truly made their way into this year’s festivities.

Schoolies yesterday confided in the Bulletin that at least 80 per cent of them are “f*cked up on ecstasy”.

“It’s cheaper than alcohol to buy one pill of ecstasy,” one teenager said.

“It lasts you the whole night, while alcohol doesn’t.”

Pills (ecstasy) are reportedly the most common drug at Schoolies, as well as MDMA, ice, acid and weed.

NEWS: 22-YEAR-OLD “TOOLIE” ASSAULTED AT SCHOOLIES



Schoolies take over Surfers Paradise media_camera Schoolies 2014 Saturday night L-R Marissa Cummings , Caitlin McAurthur and Sinead McAurthur . Picture Mike Batterham 1 of 45 media_camera Preachers at Schoolies on Saturday night . Picture Mike Batterham 2 of 45 media_camera Schoolies 2014 Saturday night .L-R James Okuno and Wilson Tran . Picture Mike Batterham 3 of 45 media_camera Schoolies 2014 Saturday night .L-R Rachel Parkinson , Emily Rabone and Alix Hyde . Picture Mike Batterham 4 of 45 nav_small_close Want to see more?( 41 more photos in collection )Continue to full gallery nav_small_left nav_small_right

media_camera Schoolies pose for a photo with Surfers Paradise police. Picture Mike Batterham

One pill of ecstasy, also known as “dingas” or “pingas”, costs $20 to $30 on the street compared to about $50 for a carton of beer.

“Depends if you get a good deal or ripped off,” one boy said.

“MDMA $25, acid $25 or weed any where from $100 to $600.”

While some schoolies buy drugs before coming to the Gold Coast, there is no shortage of supply once they hit the Glitter Strip.

“Guys offer them at the beach concerts,” one girl from Cairns said.

“Or else on the streets or at the more trashy hotels.”

Just like the amount of drugs, the anecdotes are also flowing.

TITLE: GB NN SCHOOLIES STORY

media_camera Schoolies dance long into the night on the streets of Surfers. Picture Mike Batterham

“I saw a guy trip on acid, it was nasty,” a schoolie from Caboolture said.

Most schoolies agreed to trying the drugs for the first time at Schoolies.

“There are no parents so it’s easier to get away with it,” one said.

“Everyone is doing it so I guess there’s a bit of peer pressure,.”

Overnight police arrested 26 schoolies on 30 offences with the majority of charges for public nuisance and street offences with seven schoolies arrested for drug offences.

On-the-spot liquor infringement notices were issued overnight to 77 schoolies and 22 non-schoolies.

media_camera Monica Quacinella, Rebbeca Willis and Stephanie Avendamo enjoying the first weekend of Schoolies in Cavill Mall. Picture Mike Batterham

On Saturday night Two 17-year-old females were charged with possessing dangerous drugs after Police allegedly found ecstasy tablets in a hotel room on Orchid Avenue just after midnight.

Meanwhile that night another 19 schoolies were arrested on drunk and public nuisance offences and 35 non-schoolies were arrested on another 40 charges.

Chief Superintendent Des Lacy said despite having 2500 more schoolies than last year Police hadn’t had any significant offences as yet.

“On a whole Saturday night is always the most jubilant night for the schoolies and that’s when they’re air punching and letting off a bit of steam but in terms of behaviour there has been nothing significant for us,” he said.

media_camera Thousands of school leavers descended on Cavill Mall this weekend. Picture Mike Batterham

“We have had probably more schoolies arrested this year then this time last year but last year was a very quiet year because we had a lot of rain ... and it’s on par with how it was when we had the great weather two years ago.

“I think it is great (the clear weather) and it brings them out and they will be all tired out by this time Tuesday.

“It is off to a great start and we are very pleased and hope it stays that way.”

Over 16,429 wristbands have been handed out to Schoolies, up from 15,521 from last year with 88 per cent of them Queenslanders and 80 per cent 17-year-old party goers.

Independent Chair of Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Group Mark Reaburn said the number of arrests wasn’t to bad in relation to the large number of teenagers at the event.

“Of the arrests (on Saturday) 19 were Schoolies, which is not bad considering there was 16-thousand Schoolies in Surfers Paradise last night,” he said

media_camera Preachers have been using the annual event to try and share their messages with schoolies. Picture Mike Batterham

“We always anticipate there will be scuffles — we know there are never going to be no arrests.”

Religious groups have also spent the weekend in Surfers Paradise, with many presenting speeches and urging school leavers to reconsider their faith and choices.

Hare Krishna groups have been dancing in the street with schoolies forming massive congo lines behind them, while Christian preachers have set up PA systems and cardboard signs to get their message to teens.