Synthetic drug dangers highlighted for parents, teens
Classes offered by Sheriff's Department and Crimestoppers
New drugs hit the streets all the time, and parents may not know what they look like.
That's why Crimestoppers and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office are putting on a class to educate parents about the dangers of synthetic drugs.
The popularity of the first class prompted an additional class on the topic to be offered.
It will take place February 5th at the City Hall auditorium.
The class will have actual drugs on display, confiscated from past drug busts.
The class will focus on teaching teens and parents about next generation drugs, what they look like, and how they're packaged.
Mesa County Sheriff's Deputy Chad Williams, who runs the Safe Kids project, explains why the classes are so important.
"I think with drugs in general there is so much misinformation out there that sharing the truth with them is critically important," Williams said, "Especially the way synthetic drugs are marketed, the way that club drugs look, if you don't know what you are looking for, the packaging the way the drugs look, you'll completely miss it."
Deputy Williams says he shows videos of teens abusing synthetic drugs and how they are affected as part of the class.
Teens and parents are encouraged to attend together.
Again, the class takes place at the City Hall auditorium at 250 North 5th St.
For more information, or to sign up for a future class, head on over to: http://www.mesacountysafekids.com/