Parents Key in Fighting Synthetic Drugs, Experts Say

Parents are a key part of the fight against the emerging threat of synthetic drugs, said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy. He spoke at a working group session Thursday on synthetic drugs, which was co-hosted by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

“Synthetic drugs like ‘Spice,’ ‘K2,’ and ‘bath salts’ are a serious threat to the health and safety of young people throughout America,” Kerlikowske said in a news release. “We will continue to coordinate a comprehensive government-wide response, but we cannot do this alone. Parents and adult influencers must understand the serious threat these drugs pose and act today to talk to teens about the serious health and safety consequences of drug use – in whichever form it may come.”

The session included high level officials from government agencies, as well as representatives from the private sector, who met to discuss how to coordinate the Federal, state and local response to these drugs.

the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids introduced a new information kit for parents and adult influencers, which contains tools to help them talk with teens about synthetic drugs, and how to recognize the warning signs of use. The kit includes a slidecast about these drugs and provides information on what to look for, their street names, and what their effects are.

The kit is available at the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids website and is part of a “Parents360” community education program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.