POLICE WARN PARENTS OF 'CLUB DRUGS'

The presentation on "club drugs" was an education for Lake Forest resident
Suzanne Zimmerman.

During a recent two-hour talk, Zimmerman and other parents learned about
the popularity of the drugs, their effects and the dangers they pose to users.

"I'm going to talk to my children and tell them a few things I learned
today," Zimmerman vowed.

Co-sponsored by Lake Forest-based LEAD (Leading Edge Against Drugs) and
State Rep. Susan Garrett, the program featured state police from a task
force on illegal drugs, gangs and weapons.

The program was organized, in part, as a response to a discussion by a
group of parents about a state bill designed to set stronger penalties for
selling what are known as "club," "rave," or "designer" drugs.

There have been three recent deaths in McHenry, Naperville and Lisle tied
to the drugs, the crowd was told by Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Terry
Lemming, director of the Lake County office of the Metropolitan Enforcement
Group, and Master Sgt. Mark Henry from the DuPage County office of the group.

Undercover officers from Lemming's group arrested two people accused of
selling these drugs at a Memorial Day weekend "rave" party in Antioch. Rave
promoters bill the parties as "alcohol free," lulling parents into thinking
they are safe for teens to attend, Lemming said.

"They usually are alcohol free," he said. "But the drugs are readily
available."

The Metropolitan Enforcement Group's Web site at www.lakecountymeg.org
lists common drugs and danger signs for which parents can be on the alert.

Lemming and Henry ticked off the most popular drugs: Ecstasy, or MDMA,
which causes euphoria and reduced inhibitions; PMA, which is more popular
than Ecstasy and causes rapid pulse and elevated body temperature;
methamphetamines, or meth, speed; and the old '60s standby LSD, which
causes hallucinations.

"These substances are being taken by kids who we don't normally think of as
traditional drug users," said Micki Jones, LEAD director.

Zimmerman, who has two teenage children, said the presentation made her
concerned. While she doesn't allow her children to go to teen clubs, she
knows of other parents who do.

"They don't know where their kids are or what they are doing," she said.
"That's disturbing to me. The kids trust other kids to tell them what's safe."