The Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the North Coastal Prevention Coalition will host simultaneous Teen Substance Abuse Prevention Community Forums in English and Spanish on Thursday, September 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Fr. Ulman Room (English) and St. Claire Hall (Spanish) at St. Francis Church, 525 W. Vista Way in Vista. Parents, youth in grades 6-12, and other interested residents are invited to attend and hear from a panel of local experts discuss underage drinking and substance abuse issues.
Tri-City Medical Center (TCMC) and the North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC) will host a community forum to combat the rise in prescription medication abuse on Wednesday, August 24th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the Community Room at TCMC located in Oceanside at 4002 Vista Way. TCMC employees and their families, as well as the general public are invited to attend and hear from powerful guest speakers. Refreshments, portable medication lock-boxes, and other educational materials will be provided to attendees.
Members of the North Coastal Prevention Youth Coalition (NCPYC) will be assessing various retailers in Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad to see if they are following the request of local law enforcement agencies to stop selling synthetic drug products such as Spice, K2 and bath salts. In early June, the Vista Sheriff’s Station, Oceanside Police Department, and Carlsbad Police Department sent letters to over 200 retailers asking for their cooperation in reducing the availability of these drugs due to their potential dangers.
On July 20, 2011 beginning at 4:00 pm at Valero Gas Station in Oceanside (3954 Mission Ave.), NCPYC members will review merchandise for sale at local retailers who may be selling synthetic drugs. Retailers who are not selling them will be thanked. Retailers who are selling them will be presented with the letter from law enforcement, informed of the health and safety risks of synthetic drugs, and encouraged to stop selling these products, which were placed on the federal Controlled Substance Act List as a Schedule I drug as having a high potential for abuse earlier this year. On March 1, 2011 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final order published in the Federal Register (76 Fed. Reg. 11075).
NCPYC youth are very passionate about this issue. "I really want to get synthetic drugs off the market," stated Michael Redman, a youth leader of NCPYC. "It’s sad to see so many people are getting hooked to this drug. I can’t believe they can just go buy them at a store."
Synthetic drugs come packaged in small plastic jars or foil bags with names such as "K2," "Spice," "Yucatan Fire," "Blueberry Mamba," "Genie," etc. and are sold in liquor and convenience stores, gas stations, smoke shops, and head shops.
Use of synthetic drugs continues to grow and has been linked to adverse effects such as panic attacks, heart palpitations, respiratory complications, aggression, mood swings, altered perception, and paranoia (Medical News Today, NMS Labs Now Performs Urine Tests For Metabolites Of Synthetic Cannabinoids Found In K2 And Spice).
The Oceanside Police Department (OPD) will have over 100 police officers in the beach and downtown to help enforce the city’s alcohol-free areas, which include beaches, jetties, the pier, and all parking lots. OPD reminds everyone that public consumption of alcohol is prohibited, as well as public drunkenness. To ensure a safe and enjoyable weekend, the Department’s philosophy will be one of ZERO TOLERANCE against crimes, acts of civil unrest, and fireworks.
Lieutenant Leonard Mata says “The police department is committed to providing a safe environment for the 4th of July event; therefore we are asking our community and guests to do their part by obeying the laws that were enacted to provide for their safety.”
Aaron Byzak, President of the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, whose mission is to reduce the harms of alcohol and drugs in the Tri-City area, says “As we celebrate our country’s founding by gathering at the beach with our friends and neighbors, we hope that everyone will remember to act responsibly.”
During the 4th of July weekend, the City of Oceanside will host their annual Fourth of July celebration. This year due to financial restraints the fireworks display will not take place. About 100,000 people are expected to attend the weekend festivities, the mission of the Police Department is to provide for public safety during the weekend events, promote community safety and effectively manage the flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The Fire Department will also have emergency personnel pre-staged in both the Harbor Beach and Pier area on July Fourth. They will have additional paramedic and fire crews roaming the area to provide emergency services in the area.
