OFFICIALS ASSESS DRUG'S PRESENCE

Two boys fell into comas because of the ``date-rape drug,'' made using
a recipe from the Internet.

Neshaminy school officials and Middletown Township police yesterday were
trying to determine how widespread the production and use of a so-called
"date-rape drug" was among students, following the near-fatal ingestion of
the chemical concoction by two local teenagers.

Five teens, all boys, made the drug gamma hydroxybutyrate -- also known as
GHB and Liquid Ectasy -- in one of their homes Tuesday night. They learned
how to make GHB on the Internet, police said.

At least four of the boys, who ranged in age from 16 to 19, sampled the
mixture. Three of them later were found unconscious, and two ended up in
comas at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"It's unfortunate that this type of information is out there and that the
chemicals needed to make this drug, along with instructions, can be found
on the Internet," said Middletown Detective Dan Baranoski.

Scott Mitchell, spokesman for the Neshaminy School District where three of
the boys are enrolled, said that "given the fact these chemicals are not
controlled substances in Pennsylvania and things like this seem to be
becoming more popular concoctions, we're looking at a new responsibility as
a school system of making students, parents and families aware of the
dangers."

Mitchell said administrators and counselors were talking to students to see
how much effect the overdoses had on them and were trying to find out how
commonly used such chemicals are.

Police said the experiment took place at the home of one of youths, a
17-year-old who lives at the Commons at Middletown. At least four of the
five ingested the mixture in an effort to get high, police said. Two of the
boys, ages 16 and 17, were found unconscious when one of their mothers
arrived home at her Middletown Trace apartment shortly after 7 p.m.
Tuesday. Unable to revive them, the woman called for help, and the two boys
were taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne and then transferred to
Children's Hospital, each in a coma. Two hours later, police were called to
a wooded area on Virginia Avenue in Langhorne where a 17-year-old boy led
them to an unconscious 19-year-old. These two also were taken to St. Mary,
where they were treated and released. The 19-year-old was identified by
police yesterday as Jason Hoverson of the Middletown Trace Apartments. The
names of the four juveniles were withheld by police. It was unclear
yesterday if the fifth boy present, a 16-year-old, had consumed any of the
GHB, police said.

The boys admitted to Children's Hospital were released Wednesday.

GHB is one of several substances recently known as "date-rape drugs"
because they work as sedatives and are colorless and tasteless enough to be
slipped into a drink without detection.

At least one death was attributed to GHB, but later evidence showed that
the victim, a 17-year-old high school student in Texas, also had a
congenital heart problem that may have played a role.

Detective Baranoski said yesterday that he had yet to complete interviews
of the boys and that it was "too soon to say" whether charges would be
brought. Though the two chemicals used to make the drug are not illegal,
Baranoski said, the manufacture and sale of GHB is illegal under the
federal Food and Drug Act. No law exists in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or
Delaware specifically barring people from possessing and consuming GHB,
however. The incident took place during a week set aside for students at
Neshaminy and other Bucks County schools to remember victims of substance
abuse, said Neshaminy principal, Bruce Wyatt. As part of the commemoration
yesterday, students and teachers observed a minute of silence.

"You would have thought it was a church, it was so quiet," Wyatt said.
"Sadly, the two things just kind of meshed together. The point was driven
home even harder." Also yesterday, the district's Student Assistance
Program went to work trying to help the boys involved and their families.
Mitchell said the assistance program was made up of administrators, staff,
counselors, social workers and psychologists and that each district in the
state is required to have such a program.

School spokesman Mitchell said the district most likely would refer those
involved to other agencies for treatment and counseling.

He said the district also was trying to find ways to make students more
aware of the dangers of drugs and chemicals even when they are legal.

"The kids have access to [ computers ] at home, at school, at after-school
jobs, and there's a certain responsibility that goes with that," Mitchell
said.

Neshaminy has had antidrug programs since the late 1980s and, in 1990,
received an award from President George Bush, Mitchell said. Students
leaving school yesterday afternoon said they believed the incident was
isolated and did not represent a larger trend.

"It's really a tragedy," said Katy Jones, 16, a junior. "But I don't think
it's something a lot of kids are looking to do." Matt Wurst, 17, also a
junior, said he thought those involved "were stupid for doing it." And the
Internet, he said, "is becoming more of a harm than a help." Wyatt said he
did not believe the students accessed the information or ordered the
ingredients using Neshaminy computers, but such a possibility is a concern.
"We have an obligation as parents and as school people not to permit total
access to every bit of information out there," the principal said.