Pubdate: Tue, 31 Oct 2000
Source: Daily Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2000 The Daily Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.dailyherald.com/
Author: Meta Levin

POLICE WARN PARENTS OF 'CLUB DRUGS'

The presentation on "club drugs" was an education for Lake Forest resident 
Suzanne Zimmerman.

During a recent two-hour talk, Zimmerman and other parents learned about 
the popularity of the drugs, their effects and the dangers they pose to users.

"I'm going to talk to my children and tell them a few things I learned 
today," Zimmerman vowed.

Co-sponsored by Lake Forest-based LEAD (Leading Edge Against Drugs) and 
State Rep. Susan Garrett, the program featured state police from a task 
force on illegal drugs, gangs and weapons.

The program was organized, in part, as a response to a discussion by a 
group of parents about a state bill designed to set stronger penalties for 
selling what are known as "club," "rave," or "designer" drugs.

There have been three recent deaths in McHenry, Naperville and Lisle tied 
to the drugs, the crowd was told by Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Terry 
Lemming, director of the Lake County office of the Metropolitan Enforcement 
Group, and Master Sgt. Mark Henry from the DuPage County office of the group.

Undercover officers from Lemming's group arrested two people accused of 
selling these drugs at a Memorial Day weekend "rave" party in Antioch. Rave 
promoters bill the parties as "alcohol free," lulling parents into thinking 
they are safe for teens to attend, Lemming said.

"They usually are alcohol free," he said. "But the drugs are readily 
available."

The Metropolitan Enforcement Group's Web site at www.lakecountymeg.org 
lists common drugs and danger signs for which parents can be on the alert.

Lemming and Henry ticked off the most popular drugs: Ecstasy, or MDMA, 
which causes euphoria and reduced inhibitions; PMA, which is more popular 
than Ecstasy and causes rapid pulse and elevated body temperature; 
methamphetamines, or meth, speed; and the old '60s standby LSD, which 
causes hallucinations.

"These substances are being taken by kids who we don't normally think of as 
traditional drug users," said Micki Jones, LEAD director.

Zimmerman, who has two teenage children, said the presentation made her 
concerned. While she doesn't allow her children to go to teen clubs, she 
knows of other parents who do.

"They don't know where their kids are or what they are doing," she said. 
"That's disturbing to me. The kids trust other kids to tell them what's safe."
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