High school ecstasy sales results in arrest

One student was arrested and three others are under investigation in connection with an Ecstasy sales ring at Douglas High School.

A student who purchased Ecstasy at the school suffered from an overdose at a friend's house and required medical care, according to Sgt. Jim Halsey of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

The ring was uncovered by school officials and Douglas County Sheriff School Resource Officer Greg Shields after they received a tip in November.

Acting on that information, an investigation resulted in the arrest of one Douglas High School student for possession of a controlled substance, and implication of three other students for sales of a controlled substance. The identities of the involved students are being withheld due to their age.

The Ecstasy pills appear to have been purchased from a distributor in Sacramento and brought back to the area by one of the students for later distribution.

Ecstasy is an illegally manufactured drug that comes in tablet or capsule form. The appearance varies considerably ranging from brown, white or pink tablets to yellow, clear, purple, red and black or red and yellow capsules. Some also have pictures, designs or logos stamped on them, the most popular of which is a three-pronged symbol resembling a Mitsubishi logo.

Ecstasy is classed as a hallucinogenic amphetamine. Different ecstasy tablets contain differing amounts of MDMA, which contributes to the large variation on the nature and strength of the effects " and could result in overdose.

Douglas County School District Superintendent Carol Lark and Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini both said they are extremely concerned about the use of Ecstasy by our area teens due to the extremely addictive nature of the drug. Both Lark and Pierini asked that parents be aware of their teen's activities and behaviors, particularly those that may be related to drug or alcohol use, and to take appropriate action.

There are a multitude of social services available within Douglas County and the Douglas County School District to drug users and their families. Halsey encouraged anyone needing those services to call the Douglas County Partnership of Community Resources Office at (775) 782-8611.