POLAND Police warn teens about drug called GHB being used locally

Officers investigate a report of a possible rape.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Township and village police are concerned about what they call the growing use of party drugs by teens.
The concern was voiced after a 14-year-old Columbiana girl told officers she may have been drugged and raped at a party here over the weekend.
According to police reports, the girl and three of her friends went to the Skate Connection in Boardman Township, where they met another boy. He invited the group to a party at a residence in the 400 block of South Main Street in Poland.
The girl said she woke up outside in her friend's car -- unaware of anything that had happened or how she got in the car. Later that evening the girl told her mother she had been drugged and raped. She was taken to Salem Community Hospital.
Drugs used: Police Chief Carl Massullo said police have established that teens at the party were using certain types of drugs, but it is unclear if the girl voluntarily took a substance or was given something.
He said results from tests done at the hospital are needed to determine if the girl was sexually assaulted. Whatever happened at the party clearly traumatized the girl, the chief noted.
Village police have picked up the investigation because the Main Street address falls in their jurisdiction.
Massullo said the episode is one of several involving teen-agers that officers are investigating in which some type of depressant drug may have been used.
"We have noticed a number of incidents that have involved the date rape drug GHB," he said. "What is alarming to us is the number of reports we are seeing where our kids are abusing these drugs. We know the drugs are here, they seem to be readily available, and the kids are not hesitating to use them."
Lucinda Caparso, youth diversion specialist, said the primary drugs being used are GHB, a central nervous system depressant; Rohypnol, which causes partial amnesia; and other depressants. She said that in large enough amounts the drugs can be fatal.
Problems before: Caparso said the South Main Street address has been a problem for officers in dealing with juveniles. She said in the past two weeks there have been four police calls involving juveniles going to or coming from the house.
Caparso warns teens not to attend parties where the drugs are commonly used. She said those who do go, especially females, should never accept an open soft drink from anyone -- and don't put a soft drink down and return to it later.
jgoodwin@vindy.com