ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703030124
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WOBURN, MASS.
SOURCE: From The New York Times and The Boston Globe
A routine middle school dance turned into a nightmare Friday as 14 teen-agers overdosed on the prescription muscle relaxant baclofen, authorities said.
Seven students from Kennedy Middle School remained on respirators, in critical condition, at Children's Hospital in Boston Saturday, and an eighth was listed in good condition, said Cindy Revelle, a hospital spokeswoman.
A 13-year-old girl was in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital, a spokeswoman there said.
At Children's Hospital, Dr. Michael Shannon said he expects all of the victims under observation to recover from the overdose with no permanent damage to the brain or other organs.
But, he said, ``I think all of them are very lucky to be alive.''
Normally, baclofen is used for treating cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. It is usually prescribed in doses of one or two pills, Shannon said. Slightly higher doses can lead to euphoria or intoxication. Large doses, which can shut down the lungs, can be fatal.
Authorities said police officers and emergency workers were summoned to the Woburn Boys and Girls Club about 10 p.m. Friday. Students who had overdosed were rushed to hospitals, and authorities interviewed hundreds of residents, locating two children who had ingested the drug but had not sought medical attention.
Most of the victims were girls, ages 13 to 16, celebrating their selection to next year's cheerleading squad. The youths had ingested ``literally hundreds of pills,'' a law enforcement official said, washing them down with water, soft drinks and beer.
Middlesex County District Attorney Thomas Reilly said that investigators had identified the ``immediate source'' of the drug, but declined to discuss the nature of the investigation.
``This could happen anywhere,'' he said. ``These are kids that took this drug without realizing what the impact would be.''
The police arrived at the dance in response to a report that a boy had passed out, Patrolman Robert Giannotti said. When rescue crews got to the scene, more teen-agers at the dance were falling ill, he said: ``When the police and fire departments got there, they were dropping like flies.''
Nervously waiting for information at the police station, Eileen Mills said her daughter Maureen had joined other middle school girls at the dance in celebrating. Mills said one of Maureen's friends was reported to have taken more than two dozen baclofen pills.
``She's now on life support,'' Mills said. She said her daughter had taken no pills.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Map by AP.by CNB