CAFFEINE-BASED `ENERGY' PILLS SEND 18 STUDENTS TO HOSPITAL

SACRAMENTO -- Eighteen fifth- and sixth-grade students suffered nausea or
stomach cramps Tuesday after consuming powder from caffeine-based
``energy'' capsules, school and sheriff's officials said.

The students at Kingswood Elementary School in suburban Citrus Heights were
taken to hospitals for treatment and observation after ingesting as much as
the equivalent of the caffeine in 16 cups of coffee.

A student, whose name was not released, brought the capsules to the campus.
San Juan Unified School District spokeswoman Linda Winthers said that after
an investigation, the youngster could face penalties ranging from a
five-day suspension to expulsion.

The capsules are sold over the counter, but no such substances are allowed
at the school. The product is one of several caffeine-based pills sold as
energy-enhancing substances.

The incident ``stems from (society's) fascination with caffeine -- it gets
you awake, it gets you going,'' said Sgt. Jim Cooper, a spokesman for the
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

The capsules were labeled ``357 Mag,'' which authorities said refers to the
.357-caliber handgun. ``My biggest gripe is 357 Magnum on this capsule. It
denotes a high-velocity bullet,'' Cooper said.

The 11- and 12-year-old students who became ill opened up the capsules, put
the powder into food or drink and consumed it, Cooper said. One of the
students soon vomited.

The amount swallowed ranged from the contents of one to eight capsules. One
capsule contains 200 mg of caffeine -- roughly the same amount found in two
cups of coffee. Eight capsules contain 1,600 mg -- the approximate caffeine
content of 16 cups of coffee.

It was the second drug-related incident at Kingswood in two days. On
Monday, a half-dozen youngsters sprinkled smaller amounts of the powder on
instant soup lunches. None got sick.