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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Jacobson at (313) 234-4220

DEA And The Coalition For A Drug Free Greater Cincinnati Host
"Operation X-Out"
Combatting Club And Predatory Drugs

MAY 1--Cincinnati, OH- On May 1st, 2003, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Coalition for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati hosted "Operation X-Out" at the University of Cincinnati. Operation X-Out is a national DEA initiative to increase public awareness and increase enforcement efforts relating to club and predatory drugs that have escalated in use both as recreational drugs and sexual assault facilitators.

Those who attended the forum received presentations on the emerging club and predatory drugs, the dangers of these drugs, and direction for how to get the information to those groups most at risk. DEA Dangerous Drugs and Chemicals Section Chief Dennis Wichern provided a comprehensive overview of the nation drug trends and insight on patterns of trafficking that may affect the Greater Cincinnati in the near future.

Chemist Brooke Dunn provided a detailed view of the local club and predatory drug situation in the Cincinnati area. Dr. Jan Scaglione of the Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center provided a very educational and informative overview of the Pharmacology of Designer Drugs. All of the presenters had extraordinary expertise in their areas and were very well received by the audience.

"George", a local teenager from Cincinnati, provided powerful testimony regarding the devastation he personally experienced while addicted to club drugs. "George" has been clean for two years and works with "Kids Helping Kids", which helps young people work with their peers to overcome substance abuse.

"These programs are a critical part of reducing club and predatory drug use throughout the Midwest. We [DEA] have to reach the kids that are most at risk to use these dangerous substances, which have been documented to cause long term central nervous system and cognitive memory impairment. The DEA is counting on these peers to relay the information of how dangerous these substances are and the long term health effects suffered from repeated use," said Michael A. Braun, DEA Special Agent in Charge for the Detroit Field division, which oversees offices in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.

• The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates that nationwide emergency room incidents involving Ecstasy rose from 637 in 1997 to 5,542 in 2001.

• Some sexual assault centers report as much as a 50% increase in sexual assaults in urban areas and college campuses due to predatory drugs.

• Nationally less than 38% of all sexual assaults are reported to police