TEENS 'ZOMBIE' PILL FAD: ABUSING AMBIEN (Kennedy drug used as party-sex enhancer)

NY POST ^ | 5/14/06 | SUSANNAH CAHALAN and SUSAN EDELMAN

[Liz]

A growing number of city high-school and college kids are popping Ambien - the drug Rep. Patrick Kennedy blamed, in part, on his car crash - not to sleep, but to party.

The insomnia medication, known as "zombie pills," "tic-tacs" and "A-minus," has become popular at house parties and nightclubs....illegally sold by Internet drugstores, peddled outside Big Apple nightclubs and even bartered on Craigslist.

One desperate user offered his X-rated DVDs. "You give me Ambien, I'll give you porn," he wrote. At the street price of $5 a pill, young people are gobbling Ambien for relaxation, euphoria and hallucinations.

Partyers also take Ambien with booze, pot and other pills - a dangerous combination, doctors say - to get a stronger high.

The "zombie" fad worries doctors. "I have patients who abuse Ambien to get a buzz," said Dr. Richard Frances, a NYU psychiatry professor......

The sleeping pill is the target of a growing class-action lawsuit in Manhattan federal court that claims the pills caused bizarre "zombie-like" behavior - including reckless driving and binge eating.

Kennedy blamed Ambien as a factor in his May 5 crash in D.C.

.......... said lawyer Susan Chana Lask, who represents 500 in the suit. "Many burn their hands on the stove, eat weird things - one lady made a sandwich with ice cream, syrup and pretzels - and have wild sex with their spouses or other people."

[BenLurkin]

" one lady made a sandwich with ice cream, syrup and pretzels"

Hmmm . . .

[Hildy]

Oh please, every generation has their "it" pill. Unfortunately, mine was Qualudes. Be thankful their only taking Ambien.

[JRios1968]

" one lady made a sandwich with ice cream, syrup and pretzels"

[Liz]

The story is significant not b/c its about pills per se, but b/c it concerns a pill Cong Kennedy took, then used as an excuse to explain his bad behavior.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Unfortunately, mine was Qualudes."

Rorer 300's. The pill that zombied an entire generation.

I also have the t-shirt.

[Hildy]

Everyone knows that's a bogus story...he was drinking, period.

[Hildy]

You got that right.

[Wiggins]

[RightWingAtheist]

[SIDENET]

"You give me Ambien, I'll give you porn,"

LOL.

[Despot of the Delta]

"Unfortunately, mine was Quaaludes."

Rorer 300's. The pill that zombied an entire generation.

That would be Rorer and Lemmon 714's... LOL

Not that I would know anything about that. (Whistling Innocently)

[hsalaw]

and have wild sex with their spouses or other people

From a SLEEPING PILL? What am I missing here? I thought Ambien was a sleeping pill; why are people eating ice cream sandwichs and having wild sex after taking a sleeping pill? Not that I think for a moment Kennedy was anything but drunk.

[Glenn]

Unfortunately, mine was Qualudes.

Ludes made for calm companions. There are worse things, eh?

[D-Chivas]

There's no proof Patrick Kennedy had Ambien in his system. However they are witnesses that Kennedy was knocking back a whole bunch of alcohol earlier in the evening.

[Liz]

Thanks---love it. Wonder if it's on DVD? Did Sheldon Leonard play the zombie? LOL.

[The Worthless Miracle]

" one lady made a sandwich with ice cream, syrup and pretzels"

This drug sounds as harmful as marijuana!

[English Nationalist]

said lawyer Susan Chana Lask, who represents 500 in the suit. "Many burn their hands on the stove, eat weird things - one lady made a sandwich with ice cream, syrup and pretzels - and have wild sex with their spouses or other people."

"My clients abused prescription drugs and had adverse side effects. I demand restitution of $figurewithlotsofzeros and a wahmbulance."

[Liz]

.....and nobody saw the glassine envelopes under the driver's seat, and the little gold straw with a powder residue on the passenger seat...?

[Liz]

In the language of the law----$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$