Company Defends Its Caffeinated Booze After Students Sickened

Photo Courtesy - ABC News(ELLENSBURG, Wash.) -- The company behind a controversial caffeinated alcoholic beverage that's being blamed for sickening dozens of Central Washington University students said it was the mixing of alcohol and possibly drugs that caused them to become seriously ill.

The aftermath of the party, where police found students passed out all over the house and rushed nine to the hospital, has renewed calls for bans on the drink Four Loko, which combines as much alcohol as a six-pack of beer and the equivalent of several cups of coffee.

Four Loko manufacturer Phusion Projects defended its product in a statement to ABC News, pointing to seven labels on the can warning of the drink's contents and calling attention to the need for identification to purchase.

Authorities who responded to the party said the students were in such bad condition they initially were believed to be the victims of the date rape drug. But police said Monday that toxicology tests on the students found no evidence of drug use.

Police called to the scene of the house party, in Rosyln, Wash., about 30 miles from the university, found young people -- many of them women -- passed out throughout the house and on the front lawn. Police were immediately suspicious that drugs were involved, but interviews with the students and toxicology tests ruled out drugs, police said.

Copyright 2010 ABC News Radio

Expulsion Possible for Students at Overdose Party

Image Courtesy - Getty Images(ELLENSBURG, Wash.) -- The students involved in an off-campus party in Washington state that resulted in 12 young people suffering possible overdoses of a date-rape drug may face expulsion for violating the university's code of conduct.

Authorities on Monday were trying to determine who organized the party that may have been part of a larger date-rape scheme. As many as 50 students attended the Roslyn, Washington party that occurred 30 miles from Central Washington University, where many of the partygoers are students, according to Rosyln-Cle Elum police.

But what began as a typical college party soon spiraled out of control when 12 students -- most of whom are believed to be female -- were rushed to the hospital after suffering apparent overdoses.

Authorities have said they believe some sort of drug was surreptitiously slipped into the victims' drinks, although they didn't found evidence of drugs during a search of the home.

Students' punishments could range from mandatory alcohol education class to suspension or expulsion, according to a school official.

Copyright 2010 ABC News Radio

Spiked Drinks, Overdoses Send 12 to Hospital; Women Targeted?

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(ROSYLN, Wash.) -- At least 12 students and teens were rushed to the hospital late Friday after police busted an off-campus party near Central Washington University.

The discovery of an unconscious woman in a grocery store parking lot led police to a house party where they say a number of individuals – mostly women – overdosed after being served spiked drinks.

A man was arrested when cops found him sexually assaulting a semi-conscious woman in a back bedroom.

Police are investigating whether the women were targeted for sexual assault.

Approximately 50 people attended the gathering. All were underage.

Detectives continue to investigate the source of the spiked drinks and said more arrests are possible.

Copyright 2010 ABC News Radio