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.