COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT DIES OF CAFFEINE OVERDOSE

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (AP) - A 20-year-old man died after taking a dare from a
fellow student and swallowing dozens of caffeine pills.

Jason Allen had swallowed most of a 90-pill bottle, which would be the
equivalent to drinking as many as 250 cups of coffee, authorities said.
"It's a terrible, terrible story," said Morehead City police Maj. Wrenn
Johnson. "No one suspects caffeine to be deadly."

Allen was taking general education development classes at Carteret Community
College. He collapsed outside the college during a break from class Oct. 20.
It wasn't known when he took the pills. Authorities said it appeared that
Allen died of heart rhythm irregularities associated with the high dose of
caffeine, which is a central nervous system stimulant.

Checked-by: Don Beck