Teenagers at a dance meant to keep them off the streets at the Boys and Girls Club in Woburn, Massachusetts, nine miles northwest of Boston, overdosed on baclofen, a prescription muscle relaxant. Some of the victims, mostly teenage girls ages 13 to 16, who were celebrating their selection for the cheerleading squad, had taken up to 35 pills, washed down with water, soft drinks and beer. Witnesses say the victims were collapsing, foaming at the mouth, passing out, vomiting, and could not be woken up. Dosage usually begins at 5 mg twice daily. 10 mg and 20 mg tablets are available.
Higher doses can produce euphoria or intoxication.
Police and ambulances arrived at the dance after being called when two teenagers were discovered passed out. At least two of the teens could have died, had not officials called their homes after they left the party, suspecting that they had taken the drug. All of the teenagers have been released from the hospital. She is expected to be charged with drug distribution and larceny offenses, police said. At the dance, she handed out about 180 of the baclofen pills.