On February 1st,
The Montel Show will again feature Project GHB, GHB addiction and
the Young family from Washington. Tony has been out of jail now for
several months and has stayed sober. His sons, who said the last
time that they had given up on him, were excited to be with their
dad and see his progress. A family with a cocaine addicted mother is
also featured in this segment. Please be sure and tell everyone to
watch for it!
There have been
a number of troubling cases across the nation involving victims of
drug rape or drugging (possibly dosed for laughs or targeted by a
rapist but perhaps lost in the crowd by the suspect) who have ended
up driving vehicles and being arrested for DUI. Unfortunately, it is
hard to prove amnesia, hard to prove they were functioning at
minimal level due to dosing and truly not cognizant that they were
driving--hard to prove one's condition after the fact. So, when the
person "snaps out" of it and tries to report drug rape or possible
drugging, they are disbelieved. Test results are likely negative by
that time if GHB was involved (assuming anyone even tries to
investigate and follow up at that point). Without definitive proof,
even with significant facts pointing to dosing and rape may be left
hanging, but the DUI marches on.
Often their blood alcohol level is higher than can be explained by
the drinks they actually are aware they had ingested, and so people
assume they are lying about the number of drinks and just "got
drunk." The assumption is that they are "making up" the dosing
and/or drug rape just to get out of the DUI.
It is certainly possible for someone to make up being dosed and
claiming to have amnesia, but it is also quite possible for people
to have been drugged/raped and driven in that condition without
capability of knowing what they are doing. That is true based on
numerous GHB DUI arrests in general when trained officers do
recognize GHB impaired driving and get test results backing that up.
There have been cases where even hard, cold facts have been ignored,
like bartender statements about the victim's sudden, dramatic "face
plant" on the bar with only two drinks served and about someone
grabbing her and taking her out the door in that condition, or like
under panties missing (or left bloody on the floorboard of the car)
and clothing inside out or backwards (that clearly didn't result
from the traffic accident), etc. In some cases there has clearly
been opportunity for the rapist to ply them with more drinks after
the dosing, explaining the blood alcohol level higher than
appropriate for their witnessed and/or recalled drinks. In a party
situation or when a bartender is involved (yes, bartenders are the
first line of opportunity to dose and drink and it can happen), it
is important to also consider that the original drinks could have
contained excessive levels of alcohol.
Being arrested for DUI isn't really the problem. It's a reality.
That is what the officer is confronted with at the time, a person
driving impaired, under the influence of something. Without specific
information that something other than alcohol is involved or obvious
symptoms coupled with awareness about GHB, the officer would have no
way of knowing at that time. The problem is that when the impaired
person is able to piece it together and bring forth allegations of
drugging and/or rape, evidence may already be gone but some
investigation needs to be done. Typically it is not, and the
allegation becomes part of the defense in court and is "dismissed"
by the prosecution to the jury as just an excuse fabricated by the
defense attorney.
Occasionally things synchronize and there are adequate facts to
prove the situation. Rape cases sometimes go forward and DUI charges
are sometimes dropped. But often it isn't so simple.
There is no case more troubling than that of Emily Dowdy in
Oklahoma, a case of DUI with a fatality involved. This case has been
dragging on for five years with first a mistrial, then a conviction
overturned due to the judge prohibiting the defense of involuntary
intoxication, then a second conviction (same judge) with a sentence
of 40 years (despite lack of prior arrests of any kind) and a second
appeal now pending.
A college student at age 25, Emily Dowdy went out with another
female from her job. They were not close friends, just casual
acquaintances through work. Both agree that Emily turned down a
drink at the friend's house when she arrived to pick up the friend.
Arriving at their chosen location, her friend made it through the
crowd to the bar first and ordered their drinks. But, both agree
that the friend on her own also ordered each of them a shot of
Jagermeister (a drink often used to disguise GHB). She turned away
from drinks on the counter briefly in order to hand one drink to
Emily and then turned around again with the second drink. Emily
consumed the shot and explains that she had not requested it but
drank it as a gift from her friend. She then started drinking the
Cape Cod she had ordered. She does not recall if she finished it or
not. They were dancing on the crowded floor for a while, during
which time a young man sort of joined in.
Then her focus turned to her friend who became suddenly violently
ill, which she found unusual for the amount of alcohol she knows she
had consumed and based on her prior drinking experience. The
bartenders would not serve the friend again but did give Emily
another drink. She does not recall whether or not she finished it
and does not recall feeling anything unusual at that time. She does
recall the man from the dance floor walking down the stairs behind
them as they left the location. She has always contended that her
last recall is unlocking the passenger door for her friend to sit
down.
Emily did not drive the car at that point. That is an undisputed
fact as the friend remained in/around the car awhile and someone
called the police due to her intoxicated condition. Police arrested
her for being drunk in public and Emily was nowhere around at that
time. Emily is unaccounted for during a prolonged period but at some
point returned and drove her car, at one point entering the freeway
in the wrong direction, resulting in a head-on collision that caused
the death of a police officer's son. She had no under panties on at
the time of the accident, which the prosecution explains away in the
last trial through a paramedic's testimony as being because, "that's
how those women are, wearing slinky clothes and going out without
underwear." That paramedic also claimed to have had training on GHB
(though he described the symptoms of MDMA, aka Ecstasy, in his
testimony, not the symptoms of GHB ingestion). His subpoenaed
training records showed otherwise but this evidence was not
presented to the jury for reasons unknown.
Having sustained serious injuries herself (broken neck, severed
nerve in one arm, etc.), Emily did not make allegations of rape at
that time. It is unlikely that anyone drugged and raped and
suffering traumatic injuries would have been able to articulate such
events.
The most recent trial, resulting in a conviction and 40 year
sentence, is being appealed based on a number of allegations of
prejudice and misconduct by judges and attorneys involved. Observers
have questioned why certain evidence/testimony was not presented to
the court, about rulings that prevented other evidence from being
entered, allegations of judicial prejudice, about conduct between
attorneys/judge within the courtroom, etc. There is dispute over
other allegations of drug rapes occurring from the same location.
Even disregarding the possibility of involuntary intoxication
(drugging), the sentence is dramatically in excess of typical DUI
cases with fatalities. A man in Nevada in a very similar situation
(possibly drugged for purposes of robbery with a wrong-way, head-on
fatality involved) got five years. A senator with a history of drunk
driving killed someone and got only 100 days. A government employee
with a history of drunk driving, killed four people and got only a
few years (featured in a TV news special). A few years ago, a
voluntary, chronic user of GHB in Los Angeles who had prior arrests
and a prior conviction for DUI (making him eligible for second
degree murder instead of just vehicular manslaughter in any future
case involving a fatality) killed someone while driving on GHB and
alcohol and was sentenced to only 14 years.
Meanwhile Emily has been in and out of prison over the last five
years, is currently in prison and her family has sustained
difficulty maintaining financial ability to defend their daughter.
This is a complex and tragic case that has resulted in the death of
an innocent person, literally a lifetime sentence for Emily as the
driver of the car and..........if defense allegations are indeed
right, has resulted in a drug rapist walking away unscathed.
The Jackson Family, Emily's parents, is asking for support for their
daughter's appeal.
Donations may be sent to the Emily J. Dowdy Legal Justice Fund, P.O.
Box 432, Hillsboro, Texas, 76645. For more information, contact
Nancy Jackson at
njjack55@hotmail.com.
Just a reminder
that we have a message board for family members and loved ones to
share with each other the traumas of GHB victimization, whether it
is rape, overdose or addiction. It has helped a lot of people
through understanding and realizing that they are not alone with
this issue. Check it out.
Please visit our online store and help make a difference. Our
brochures are simply the best! Many brochures on GHB address only
one issue, such as drug facilitated sexual assault or recreational
use by partygoers. Ours alone addresses all aspects, including
recreational abuse, use as a weapon for rape, senior citizen use for
purported anti-aging properties (but then Nick Nolte is living proof
that this doesn’t work!), the addiction and severe withdrawal that
can result from intense use, drugged driving concerns, overdose and
death.
Urge your local law enforcement, medical group, high school, college
and community drug abuse prevention agencies to buy and distribute
our brochures. Or buy a handful yourself and send them to your
child’s fraternity or sorority or school, or donate them to a local
church group. Your purchase will make a difference in your community
and will enable us to print the next batch and get the information
out there to more people. In fact, supporting us now will enable us
to print our first batch of the new MDMA brochure to be added to our
online store soon. Our MDMA brochures covers all aspects of Ecstasy
use and the risks involved, including drugged driving on MDMA,
dental damage from the bruxism (teeth grinding) it causes and
concerns about eye damage from the “light shows” involving bright
lights being flashed at close proximity to their pupils that are
dilated by Ecstasy.
Our posters are particularly great for the gym scene. They address
the bodybuilder/athlete’s belief that it is a healthy workout
substance and the risk of death from even one-time use. The poster
features a triathlete who has never used GHB but knows what this
drug has done to the lives of other athletes. The wording is based
on a true story and is sadly representative of many stories related
to GHB use.
The poster reads:
You are looking at the last 5 minutes of a
bright future. They told him at the gym it worked as a muscle enhancer and sleep
aid. Safe and natural, they said. So he took GHB. One time. A little less than a capful.
In 15 minutes he slipped out of consciousness. And into a coma. He was breathing at a rate of four breathes per minute. Five minutes later, he drew his last breath. And all he wanted was to sleep a little better. And look a little better.
Our features Power Point presentations are a great asset to anyone
who teaches or works with youth in any capacity. “Recognizing
Ecstasy, Ketamine & GHB” can be viewed free and is an awesome
resource for parents and teachers and others to learn the basics
about these three drugs. For a tiny donation of $12, it can be
downloaded and used to give presentations. Or we can ship you a CD
if that’s best for you. Adapt it to your needs, add local statistics
and photos and have a first-class presentation. We ask only that you
not make multiple copies and distribute it. Project GHB has no
primary source of funding. We are dependent on volunteer work,
purchases of these items and donations.
The “A Word To Our Students” Power Point CD is geared to high school
and college students, covers a wider array of drug issues, including
steroids, sexual assault, methamphetamines, etc. If you don’t
personally plan to make presentations of this type, consider buying
one to donate to your local school resource officer, youth
counselor, church youth group leader, etc.
Purchase and wear our purple t-shirts, polo shirts or hat with the
Project GHB logo and help get our name out there so that more will
visit our website and learn about the dangers of GHB and other drug
abuse issues.
Or, make a direct donation to Project GHB.
Together we can make a difference.
Mailing address: Project GHB
NEW!!!
PROJECT GHB Can Take Your Credit Card Offline For
Products/Registration
Are you interested in purchasing something or
registering for the conference but your agency won’t allow you to
use your credit card online (or you just don’t feel comfortable
doing so)? We can now take credit cards via phone. Call
626-577-5204 to set it up.
By
The founders of "Jenny's Journey" and "G.R.A.S.P."
PREFACE
“Even one child's passing due to substances is too many, but as long
as they're happening, we, the parents who have to survive, finding a
way through the mazes of agonizingly missing them, must reach out in
sharing and caring for one another.
When grief first strikes, everything is perceived as though you are
in a darkened room. Everything outside and beyond your present
challenges and emotions does not exist.
Then you realize that if you raise up the shades and let in even a
sliver of light, you become more aware of your immediate
surroundings and the room itself.
Slowly lifting up the shades, a few inches at a time, you see that
the light begins to illuminate the entire room…..
So it is with grief. In our devastation, we can only be aware of the
immediate needs, the demanding pressures and the pain of the
present.
Eventually…
You will lift up the shades and step out of your darkness.”
Since 1995, HELP
counselors have been providing the following services for school
districts throughout Northern California.
• Drug alcohol, tobacco and violence prevention instruction to
students through in-class education, presentations and/or assemblies
• Drug, alcohol tobacco and violence intervention
• Conflict Mediation
• Drug counseling and recovery groups
• Tobacco quit groups
• Anger management counseling and groups
• Gang counseling, groups if necessary
• Involvement in student study teams
• Involvement in School Attendance Review Board (SARB) if applicable
• Staff enrichment through education on the most current drug,
alcohol and gang trends
• Parent education through evening presentations on the most current
drug and gang trends open to the entire community to boost
attachment to school and family (Help Educate Loving Parents)
HELP believes that drug and gang reduction begins with a
comprehensive educational program. We start by educating school site
personnel including faculty, administrators and counselors on the
most current drug and gang trends.
"Best in-service I've been to in my 30 tears as a teacher" Teacher
Atwater
"Wonderful in-service we need more of this kind of information"
Teacher Sequoia Unified
Our prevention education is facilitated by John Vigallon. John is
nationally known for his expertise in adolescent at-risk behaviors
including: substance abuse, gang affiliation, anger management,
STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). John is a regular presenter
for such organizations such as, California Association of
Supervisors Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA), California State
Juvenile Officers Association (CSJOA), National Association of
School Resource Officers (NASRO), California State Association of
School Resource Officers (CSASRO), California Association of Alcohol
and Drug Educators (CAADE), As well as school districts throughout
California and the United States. John is certified as an addiction
treatment specialist through CAADE and certified as an anger
management trainer and facilitator through Anderson and Anderson.
John has been recognized by the California Youth Authority, and has
received numerous awards for his work with adolescents.
HELP also offers age-appropriate presentations for 6th-12th grade
students. During an assembly or in class presentation, students are
given an opportunity to sign up for and individual and confidential
counseling session. This begins the intervention process. During
these presentations, the number of students signing up for a
confidential counseling session averages between 12 and 30 for
in-class presentations, and anywhere from 40-80 during assemblies on
the same subjects. This has been proven time after time. HELP also
believes that prevention has to include parents by educating parents
about the most current drug and gang trends including the signs and
symptoms of abuse and gang association parents are given the added
edge--KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
"Listening to John gave my husband and I the information to help our
son" Parent
"Hearing John speak of his own recovery gave me a great deal of hope
when I had almost despaired of finding help for my son" said one
mother
"He's cool" said one teenage girl "He knows what he's talking about
because he's been there." Student Oceana High school rarely in my 35
years of teaching have I seen someone captivate an adolescent
audience as well as John...If the art of teaching is "tricking
students into knowledge with the honey of anecdote," then Mr.
Vigallon is an excellent teacher. He held them spellbound for an
hour before he unleashed his Power-Point presentation.
Murray Schnider Prinsipal Jefferson High School
COLLABORATION IS A KEY FACTOR
HELP is a collaborative effort including law enforcement, school
districts, and community based organizations. Our focus is to
educate the community to prevent drug abuse and gang involvement and
their devastating consequences.
REFERRALS
Referrals to HELP counselors originate from in-class presentations,
assemblies, school site counselors, teachers, administrators,
attendance clerks, and the parents themselves. Sending a referral is
as easy as phoning it in or placing a note in the HELP box. We
believe every referral is important and we follow up with all of
them.
INTERVENTION
Sometimes students make mistakes and get involved in at-risk
behaviors. The sooner someone intervenes the better the chance for
recovery. Our intervention is two parts:
• Early intervention
• Diversion
EARLY INTERVENTION
HELP counselors provide supplemental prevention and intervention
services for those students having difficulty with drugs, alcohol,
confrontive and unusual personal behavior. HELP counselors become
part of the staff assisting school site personnel. HELP counselors
are specially trained to confront the needs of students who are
involved in at-risk behaviors. HELP counselors are available for
school site personnel, parents and the students themselves on call 7
days a week 24 hours a day, for added support.
DIVERSION
HELP's Diversion Program is the second part to our intervention and
it offers the offender a second chance, and at the same time lets
the offender and their family know we all care. Our diversion
program has been the recipient of the "Program of the Year" award in
1996 and 1998, awarded by the California Youth Authority, and has
been recognized by Stanford University's Center for Disease Control
four times for our work with youth and their families. This program
is voluntary.
Here's how it works:
First time youthful offenders caught under the influence or in
possession of alcohol or other drugs are offered diversion. This is
accomplished by the following means,
• School participation by elimination or reducing the suspension
upon acceptance of the
• Program.
• Students are mandated to attend eight 90-minute groups and agree
to random drug testing. (Failure of a drug test begins the eight
groups all over again.)
• Parents are mandated to attend a drug education presentation with
their child.
• The psychological or physiological signs of addition are explained
by addiction treatment specialist; probation officers explain the
consequences of continued abuse.
• Testimonials of rehabilitated youthful offenders.
• Community based organizations offer their services to the offender
and their guardians. Continued contact and follow up on campus and a
certificate after satisfactory completion of the program.
RECOVERY GROUPS
Our recovery groups are held on campus for first-time offenders and
students who are seeking help with substance abuse problems, anger
issues or gang involvement. We use lesson plans from Reconnecting
Youth.
The topics include:
• Drug-Use and Non-Use Decisions
• Attendance and School Achievement Goals
• Drug Use Control Diary
• Understanding the 12-step process
• Understanding Depression
• Tracking Emotional Spirals
• Body Language (Triggers)
• Stress Reduction
• Support Systems
• Relapse Prevention (Symptoms of Slips or Relapse)
• Anger Triggers
• Improving Communication
• Self-Esteem Check List
"Thank you for being there for me this group helped me out a lot. I
have been clean for five months and I am going to stay that way.”
Student MUHSD
I learned that there are consequences to my actions and that I can
stay clean and stay sober. Thank you very much" Student FUSD
For our anger management groups we use lesson plans from Anderson
and Anderson (Controlling Ourselves)
Topics include:
• What is anger? How can we recognize it?
• Personal self-awareness inventory
• Anger and relationships
• Anger and aggression
• Active listening
• Domestic Violence
• Dealing with stress
• Keeping it real
• Miss-directed anger
• Steps for change
"I haven't beat up my brother in six weeks. Thanks for teaching me.”
Student MUHSD
Our gang groups include the following topics:
• Who are we? (Choices)
• Commonalties
• Can't we all just get along
• Conflict resolution
• Validation (the law and gangs)
• Diversity
• Disassociation
• Gang involvement and our family
HOW ARE WE FUNDED?
HELP is funded by the following sources:
AB 1113 Safe School Fund
Title 4 Safe and Drug Free Schools
Title 5 Innovative Programs
TUPE Tobacco use Prevention Education
Medi Cal reimbursement
For information on any of our services including school assemblies,
Please call John Vigallon at 209-456-0297
Or email vjohnmv46@aol.com
Or email John@projectghb.org
Not in Northern California? That's OK, John travels if you need
assistance in setting up a school program or for school assemblies &
other training needs.
Don’t believe
nonsensical, phony warnings like this one telling you
not to seek help. Even GHB alone can kill, though
drug-pushing websites will claim that it can’t unless
mixed with alcohol or other drugs. A GHB overdose IS a
911 call!
“Potentially dangerous methods of arousal” is an insane
phrase, coined by drug dealers who don’t care at all
about your life or anyone else’s. Being “unarousable”
when you sleep is not “normal.” Yes, it is common with
GHB but that doesn’t make it normal and safe.
Saving someone’s life is never the wrong thing to do.
Project GHB, a
non-profit organization committed to preventing abuse, rape and
death involving the drug gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB) today
announced the 2004 recipients for the "A Friend To Have Award."
This year's awards go to Rosemary Roberts for her Internet radio
three-part series featuring GHB issues via www.thepatientsvoice.com,
and to "Lynn", assistant manager for the Project GHB Addiction
Message Board, for her efforts to help others through the maze of
withdrawal and recovery from GHB addiction, following her own
two-year active addiction to GHB.
To counter the prevailing myth that people overdosing on the drug
gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB) should be allowed to "just sleep it
off," Project GHB initiated the "A Friend To Have Award" honoring
those
1--with the courage not to let friends or others die needlessly from
this dangerous drug,
2--those who have escaped its addictive grip and taken time to help
others, and
3--those who have contributed dramatically to GHB
prevention/treatment issues.
Rosemary Roberts was nominated due to the three-part series she did
early this year via her Internet Radio program, The Patient's Voice,
www.thepatientsvoice.com, and her tireless efforts during Project
GHB's battle to get a nail polish remover, Once Removed, a product
containing gamma butyrolactone (GBL), an active analog of GHB, as
its primary ingredient off the market. Affectionately dubbed "OR" by
its abusers, this product had become a primary source of GBL for
numerous addicts nationwide and the cause of numerous overdoses in
emergency rooms nationwide as well. GBL converts to GHB rapidly in
the human body, making it equal to GHB in terms of abuse potential.
GBL is a legitimate industrial chemical (a paint stripping chemical)
that is simply unnecessary in any over-the-counter product such as
nail polish remover. Efforts are underway to prevent further
products of this type from surfacing in the "legitimate" consumer
market. Families in crisis in several states were battling for the
very lives of their loved ones, addicted to GHB and relying heavily
on pharmacies in their communities for OR to feed their addiction.
Once family spent $26,000 in addiction detoxification and
rehabilitation on their son, only to have him take his first moment
out of treatment to buy OR in a pharmacy, consume some and crash his
car.
The three-part series covered a wide array of issues, from over the
counter product abuse to GHB rape/addiction/death, and other drugs
as well. The series is still available to be heard via the "past
programs" link on her site. Project GHB is a non-profit organization
with limited volunteer staffing time. Roberts assisted Project GHB's
efforts through her investigative efforts to identify companies
responding to our call to remove the item and those ignoring our
efforts. Ultimately Walgreens, Brooks and others removed the product
once they learned about the problem and the company producing it
reformulated it, eliminating the key ingredient of concern. The new
bottles have been tested to assure compliance and will be tested
periodically. Of course, several bottles of the original product
continued to be sold on Ebay at double the price for awhile.
Rosemary Roberts is the founder of GirlOnPoint(c), a creative
services firm specializing in custom medical and business content
for education, advertising and marketing efforts, She has long been
an advocate for consumers. A freelance writer first published in
1993, Rosemary was the writer for "California's Emerging Healthcare
Advocate: You!", a consumer's guide to choosing a healthcare plan --
their rights and responsibilities. With over twenty years experience
in the medical field as a clinical manager, patient educator,
clerical coordinator and creator of policy in the area of patient
advocacy, Rosemary is also producer and host of The Patient's Voice
and The Patient's Voice California (www.thepatientsvoiceca.com),
Internet radio programs centered around today's healthcare consumer.
Her passion as a lecturer to high-risk teens, beginning in the early
80's, and her dedication to the promotion of timely and effective
emergency medical information for at-risk individuals and seniors
within the assisted living environment today, encompass a career of
advocacy dedicated to the inspiration and education of consumers
through collaborative efforts with both grassroots America and the
corporate world.
Meanwhile, Lynn, the other 2004 winner, has been a long-standing
contributor and assistant manager of the GHB Addiction Message
Board. GHB addicts from several countries have signed up on the
Message Board for support in their struggle to break free of GHB
dependence. It's a tough battle and sometimes the tone of the Board
can hit the downside. Lynn is one of those who have worked to
maintain a positive, productive tone.
This newsletter is published 'monthly' by Project GHB, Inc, a non-profit
organization dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of GHB and
related drugs. To unsubscribe, you must log in to your account and choose
unsubscribe. Since this is an opt-in newsletter, YOU control the subscription.
Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues!
------------------------------------------------
DRUG
ID & SYMPTOM GUIDE $19.99 Contains 133 color photos of illicit street drugs and drug paraphernalia,
symptoms of influence, effects, duration, methods of ingestion, overdose
symptoms and field drug testing procedures. Also includes street slang
glossary and more. Authored by Sgt. Ken Whitley, a veteran Drug Recognition
Expert. (Includes Ecstasy and GHB and
associated paraphernalia). Lots of photos
