The Parent Information Series Of Southington Youth Services and Senator Joe Markley recently teamed up to present a forum on Current Alcohol & Other Drug Trends that affect youth.
This workshop provided a look into emerging patterns in marketing and usage.Parents were encouraged to stay on the cutting edge of the alcohol and drug fads used by today's young adults.
The discussion of new products and current usage focused on popular culture, social norms, and environment.
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Parents learned up-to-date information and local statistics on youth alcohol and other drug use. Identified emerging and current trends in alcohol consumption and marketing. How to rrecognize designer and street drugs and understand new regulations throughout the state.
Senator Markley, ranking member of the Human Services Committee also presented his case as to why the sale of intoxicating bath salts should be banned.Markley says the state poison control center has seen an increase in reports over the last two years concerning the salts which are said to make people hallucinate.
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The salts are not designated for human consumption, yet there have been hundreds of reported incidents of users snorting, smoking and even injecting the substances.
Side effects of ingesting the salts, which have been compared to cocaine, include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, agitation , hallucinations, extreme paranoia and delusions.
Police say they are investigating several cases of local convenient stores selling the salts and scanning them as lottery tickets as to avoid any record of their purchase.
Senator Markley has filed a bill to take up this issue in the General Assembly this legislative session. Markley hopes to get a public hearing on the issue before the public health committee.
