SCHOOL PAPER CARRIES STORY ON RAVE DRUG

Foothill Parents Are Upset About Ecstasy Write-Up

TUSTIN- A Foothill High School newspaper story describes the rave drug
Ecstasy as euphoric. However, parent reaction to the article is less
than ecstatic.

The article, "Ecstasy has students floating on cloud nine," incensed
parents who responded by handing out fliers at the school's open house
Thursday night.

"This is worse than the National Enquirer," said Foothill parent
Lauren Somma.

Somma was among six parents stopping people at the school driveway
with the story reprinted on fluorescent paper. "They've written about
sex, drinking and now this," she said. "Where is the standard of this
high school?"

Parent Debbie Simon, who was just handed the flier, said she was not
aware of the article.

"I'm surprised there wasn't any oversight to this," Simon said. "I'm
very concerned about the parents who don't see it and the kids who
read it who think it has a positive viewpoint."

But junior Jillian Abernathy, who wrote the story, said it was just
meant to be educational, not to advocate use of the drug. She said the
idea came from a brainstorming session with the other student reporters.

"I had no intention of advertising the drug," said the distraught
17-year-old. "I'm really upset that people are taking it this way."

Abernathy, however, admitted that the story was one-sided and should
have included the risk factors of taking Ecstasy.

The article appeared in an issue of Knightlife, the school paper,
distributed to more than 2,200 students a week ago.

It begins: "Imagine that your skin tingles with every shift, breeze or
slight touch. Even a quick massage sends orgasmic waves through your
body. ... Sounds like heaven, right? No, just pure Ecstasy."

The story then describes the side effects of Ecstasy, or "e," as well
as the cost and the growing demand for the drug. A quote from a
Foothill student who had used Ecstasy was included.

The article says that most of the drug's side effects are positive and
that most experts agree "'e' has a fairly clean slate."

"I don't do drugs, I never have, and I don't solicit drugs,"
Abernathy, who holds a 4.3 grade point average, is president of the
school's Pep Club, a member of the National Honor Society and
volunteers weekly at St. Joseph Hospital.

"This is not a drug people should be taking," she said. "It's
dangerous."

Abernathy plans to further warn students about Ecstasy use in a video
announcement being aired in classrooms today and Monday.

Dan Brooks, the Foothill principal, said the article "slipped through"
administrative hands while the reporters were pressed for deadline.

A retraction and a story describing the negative effects of Ecstasy
will be published in the next Knightlife issue. And a drug-awareness
night for students and parents has been set for May 9, Brooks said.

Pat Howard, a teacher who is the Knightlife adviser for one year,
declined to comment.