Pubdate: Sun, 03 Dec 2000
Source: Times-Reporter (OH)
Website: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1701
Address: Box 667, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
Contact:  2000 The Times-Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?345 (Hallucinogens)

HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS MAKING COMEBACK

Rumors are persistent that hallucinogenic drugs are making a comeback among 
area teens.

Stories abound about local teens using and mixing "club drugs" like ecstasy 
and LSD, but how true are they?

"They are bringing it into the area from the main campuses of area colleges 
like Kent State, Ohio State and Ohio University," said Sam Hitchcock, 
senior agent for the South Eastern Narcotics Task Force.

"Some of them go to parties and someone slips something into their drink. 
This is true of the 'date-rape drugs' (rohipnol or GHB, gamma 
hydroxybutyrate) as well." There have been three recent incidents of date 
rape at the University of Akron in recent months, including the most recent 
involving a cheerleader from the University of Connecticut.

"Some are mixing drugs without knowing they are playing Russian roulette, 
they might as well put a gun to their head."

According to a reformed area drug dealer, the club drugs are being 
manufactured from recipes found on the Internet or concocted by dealers who 
want to make more money.

"They 'cut' the drugs with things like rat poison or strychnine, making 
them deadly concoctions," said the former pusher who now works with law 
enforcement officers to bust area dealers.

He discussed how area teens are holding parties, consuming alcohol and 
drugs together.

"Mixing alcohol and any drug is a deadly game," he said.

Hitchcock said there are parents who know nothing about what their children 
are doing.

"Then there are parents who know but don't care," he said. "Some of them 
even buy the alcohol for the kids, not knowing what else the kids might be 
taking with it."

He said a lot of teachers could help students by recognizing the signs of 
drug usage but "they don't want to know what's going on."

"It's out there (drugs) and we have to make parents, teachers, everyone 
aware of it," said Hitchcock. "It's out there no matter what social or 
economic status the family may have."

He said parents should watch for changes in a child's behavior, including 
becoming secretive about their activities; withdrawing from family members 
and family activities; becoming involved with a different group of friends; 
being more moody or showing a wide swing in moods.

Help can be found through the church and school counselors, local 
psychiatric counseling, and the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health 
Services Board at (330) 364-6488.
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