Friday, April 07, 2000
More students face drug counts
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Charges have been filed against two more students implicated in an investigation of prescription drug use at Hamilton High School.
The students — both sophomores, ages 16 and 17 — were charged with drug abuse. A third person, 17, arrested Wednesday, faces charges of trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
An 18-year-old student, Michael Damico, appeared Thursday in Hamilton Municipal Court on two counts of trafficking in drugs, a count of
possession of drugs and a count of corrupting another with drugs. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
The three underage students were released to their parents and are scheduled for hearings Monday in Butler County Juvenile Court.
All four were expelled Wednesday after the 16-year-old sophomore, a girl, developed a reaction to the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.
Because officials allege the sale of drugs occurred on school property, Mr. Damico faces mandatory jail time if convicted, said Hamilton Police Sgt. Jim Malone.
Thomas Alf, principal for three years, said Wednesday was the first time he had heard reports of students bringing drugs to school with the intent of selling them to classmates.
“We hope it is an isolated incident, and we think it is,” Mr. Alf said Thursday. “... I'm concerned the same brush will paint the other 2,000 (students). We've worked hard to improve the image of the school.”
Mr. Alf said school officials have been talking with Hamilton police about ways to prevent recurrences.
Police said they knew of no other incidents at the school involving Xanax, which are white, football-shaped pills.
But John Burke, director of the Warren County Drug Task Force, said, “Xanax has always been one of the top pharmaceuticals of abuse.”
Users find it appealing because it works quickly, he said. It tends to make the user feel mellow and worry-free.
The drug also can be addictive, “and you can't take (an addicted) person off cold-turkey. They could die,” Mr. Burke said. “You have to take them off it very gradually.”
Karen Simone, hot line manager of the Cincinnati Drug & Poison Information Center, said she thinks most young people are uninformed about the drug's dangers. She noted that central nervous system depressants such as Xanax can cause a user to stop breathing when the drug is mixed with another depressant, such as alcohol.
Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.
Weird weather due for weekend
Readers cry foul over ballpark design
City supervisor put on paid leave
Driver who wrecked festival gets 141
FWW crackdown widens
Teacher's union losing president
Bad time to switch city managers
Preparing kids for a multicultural world
Teach kids to be 'culturally competent'
Minority health fair addresses barriers
Minority scholars program to honor namesake at events
New look, new content coming to the Enquirer
Adult club to open near speedway
Autopsy scheduled on 18-month-old boy
Children report abduction attempt
Defendant admits he killed girl
More students face drug counts
Police chief's leave a mystery
GET TO IT
NBC to bench Saturday night shows
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
More summer camps for kids
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Woman blessed with love for two careers
2 admit 9 Toledo slayings in '80s
3 taken to hospital after leak at plant
ACLU welcomes censorship foe
Cheviot, workers OK pacts
Cities: Cable bills stifle competition
City planner promoted to head
Death for killer upheld
Growth strategies proposed
Kids help school buy curtain
Lebanon names city planner to head department
Paducah teen killer's motives remain unclear
Range of care to be offered
Schools to battle fund cap
Schools to make up threat days
Two more resign from Warren MRDD board
Village, county clash over cash
