MAN, 25, IN COMA AFTER INGESTING DESIGNER DRUG

SAN DIEGO -- Cydon Wells Tonini, a 25-year-old Cardiff resident, is lying on
his back at UCSD Medical Center, fighting for his life.

Less than two weeks ago, he was a strapping young man full of vigor, family
and friends say.

Today he is nonresponsive and in critical condition, the result of ingesting
GBL, a designer drug made from an industrial solvent. Friends and family
members say Tonini ingested it unintentionally.

Tonini was with two friends at a San Diego nightspot Aug. 27 when he
swallowed a clear liquid he thought was water, his friends say. His
companions swallowed some, too, but they sipped small amounts while Tonini
took a longer drink.

They all became sick. Later that night, Tonini's breathing stopped and he
slipped into a coma.

Experts say GBL, or gamma butyrolactone, can cause serious health problems
and is potentially fatal.

"Small amounts will have no effect, but large amounts produce a loss of
consciousness and can stop respiration," said Dr. Anthony Manoguerra,
director of the poison control center at UCSD.

The lack of oxygen can lead to severe brain damage or death, Manoguerra
said.

"We do feel he's hearing us and he knows who's in the room," said his
mother, Carrie Tonini. "He still doesn't seem able to see. We don't know how
far he'll be able to come back."

Tonight, a benefit concert will be held at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana
Beach to collect money for Tonini, who has no medical insurance.

Tonini, who played football and wrestled at what was then known as San
Dieguito High School, worked at Tony's Jacal restaurant in Solana Beach. He
had been scheduled to return to his studies last week at San Diego State
University, where he is majoring in finance, said his mother.

"We're doing this to surround him with as much love and as many friends as
possible," said family friend Brooke Koehne, who is helping organize the
benefit, which begins at 7. The program will feature local bands The
Revelations, Pure Noodle and Travel Agents. A $5 per person donation will be
collected.

"I consider him a victim," Koehne said. "If it can happen to him, it can
happen to anybody."

GBL is often associated with body builders. It had been sold at health-food
stores and over the Internet, but sales were put on hold earlier this year
by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

A related drug -- gamma hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB -- is popular among
those who frequent underground parties known as raves.

According to an FDA news release issued in May, these products are listed as
"party drugs" on the Internet, advertised in muscle-building magazines, and
sold in health-food stores as dietary supplements to aid in sleep.

The federal agency said it has seized such drugs to prevent their sale.

Products containing GBL or GHB were sold under a variety of names including
Blue Nitro, RenewTrient, Gamma-G, Revivarant, GH Revitalizer and Fire Water.

Manoguerra said GBL, usually consumed in liquid form, produces an
alcohol-like high. But its effects also can include unconsciousness,
vomiting, headaches, seizures and respiratory depression.

The drug also has been used as a date-rape drug because it renders victims
unconscious and unable to recall events, Manoguerra said.

"Its dangers outweigh its potential benefits," he said.