News : Synthetic drugs: Area events to help law enforcement, community

Two events in Vinton in the next few days will address the latest substances used by teens and many adults to obtain some sort of high.

Today, the Vinton Police Department is organizing a presentation on K2. A morning session will offer information to law enforcement authorities on the tools available to them to enforce new laws. An afternoon presentation for health care providers and members of the public will focus on identifying the dangers of K2 and other substances.

After a morning session designed exclusively for law enforcement, the afternoon session for the medical community and general public will include a variety of speakers. Substance abuse counselors, medical examiners and others will cover the "whole spectrum" of synthetic drugs, says Police Chief Jeff Tilson. VPD officer Eric Dickinson organizes these training seminars for the department.

Then on Monday, Dr. Mark Dearden of the Virginia Gay Hospitals and Clinics will present information on K2 to local Scouts.

Dr. Dearden specifically mentioned two new drug fads that he has treated here in Vinton: "Lean" and K2.

Those drugs are challenging, the doctor said, because there are no clinical tests to prove their use.

"We just have to make a clinical diagnosis based on the patient's symptoms," he said.

"Lean" is a mixture of prescription cough syrup with candy and ice. It causes a strong euphoria and then a sudden let down.

"We dealt with that once at the hospital," said Dearden, adding that he also has treated at least one case of suspected synthetic marijuana.

Dearden said awareness of the risks by parents is a key to preventing such abuse. Also, he advises anyone with unused prescription drugs, especially narcotics, to dispose of them by returning them to a pharmacy. Both Vinton pharmacies participate in the prescription drug return program.

The doctor also cautions that adults have used these substances.