An e-mail newsletter for the education and prevention of ATOD abuse.
An effort by the Coalition Against Drug Abuse of Clay County and Southeastern IL
Counseling Centers, Inc.
July 2011
citizens of our community that these types of recreational drugs are unsafe, unacceptable, and not lawful here. Will the passage of these two ordinances put an end to this kind of abuse? Probably not, but it is a first step in letting everyone know that we, as a community, will be on the look out for recreational drug abuse. Spread the word that a lot of that “stuff” is not good to put in your body. Each one of us can take an active role in our community’s safety by being aware and educated about all kinds of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse.
METHYLENEDIOXYPROVALERONE
At the June 20 th , 2011 regular meeting held by the council of the City of Flora, Illinois two ordinances were presented by Chief of
Police John Nicholson for the Council’s action. The first ordinance includes definitions pertaining to synthetic cannabis and the penalties if possession is found. A motion was made to Pass Ordinance #11-
2436 Amending Title 6, Chapter 8 of the
City Code of the City of Flora, Illinois to
Include the Prohibition of Sale, Possession or Delivery of Synthetic Cannabis. The second ordinance, pertaining to Bath Salts
(synthetic cocaine), includes definitions of the drug and its variants, that are currently controlled substances in several countries and in three (3) U.S. states, Louisiana,
Kentucky, and Florida. A motion was made to Pass Ordinance #11-2437 Amending Title
6, Chapter 8 to Include Prohibiting the Sale and Possession of Mephedrone and
Methylenedioxyprovalerone (MDPV). Both ordinances were passed unanimously and we congratulate and commend the Flora City
Government on passing these ordinances, which have been in the making for several months. This will send a message to the
Maybe we can’t pronounce it but here is what it is:
MDPV is a psychoactive drug with stimulant properties. Reportedly, it has been sold since around 2004 as a designer drug. It is also known as MDPK, MTV, Magic,
Maddie, and Super Coke. In 2010 it was reportedly sold as a legal drug alternative and marketed in the United States as "bath salts" (under such names as Aura, Blue Silk,
Bonzai Grow, Charge Plus, Euphoria,
Hurricane Charlie, Ivory Wave, Lovey
Dovey, Ocean, Pixie Dust, Red Dove,
Scarface, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White
Girl, White Lightning) Media warnings and law enforcement officials refer to it as a
"dangerous but legal drug", "copy-cat cocaine", "the devil", "poison", and
"synthetic speed". MDPV acts as a stimulant and has been reported to produce effects similar to those of cocaine, methylphenidate , and amphetamines.

Clay County State’s Attorney Marilyn Brant issued a strong warning to the public that products marketed as K2 or substances similar to K2 are extremely dangerous and may be lethal. She says that these products are being used in Clay County. K2 is a synthetic substance that, when smoked, has an effect similar to marijuana. K2 and K2 substitutes, such as “bath salts,” are smoked, injected, or snorted to gain a “high.” They are marketed over the internet as “potpourri” or are sometimes offered as a retail item in certain establishments like bars or liquor stores. Parents are urged to pay attention to the products their children bring into the home. If a boy is bringing potpourri or bath salts into the home, that may be a red flag that you should inquire further. These products are marketed over the internet, so if your child is receiving mail-ordered bath salts or potpourri, this is a very serious situation and you may wish to turn the products over to law enforcement officers for testing and/or disposal. State’s Attorney
Brant emphasizes that these products are extremely dangerous, and can potentially be fatal. Perhaps the best course of action is to be pro-active, destroy any suspicious products, and have a serious discussion with your child about K2 and its substitutes.
QUICK CLUE
Tobacco control policies, such as clean indoor air laws and increased cigarette prices, can lower the rate of teen smoking, a new study suggests. As adult smoking declines, youth don’t have as much opportunity to see smoking as an adult activity. When parents quit smoking, it is less likely that their children will start smoking. www.drugfree.org
Burger King, Sonic and Starbucks are among the fast food chains experimenting with selling alcohol, according to USA
Today. Two Sonic restaurants in South
Florida will soon be selling beer and wine along with burgers, the newspaper reports.
Burger King “Whopper Bars” that sell beer have opened in Miami, Kansas City and Los
Angeles. Several Seattle Starbucks are now selling local wine and beer. These chains are adding alcohol to the menu in an attempt to boost sales during evening hours, the article notes. Not everyone is enamored of the idea of serving alcohol alongside fast food.
Michele Simon, Research and Policy
Director at the Marin Institute, an alcohol industry watch group, told the newspaper,
“Fast food plus fast alcohol equals fast drunks.” Christopher Muller, Dean of
Boston University’s School of Hospitality
Administration, said adding alcohol to the menu could increase the risk of more people drinking and driving. Sonic says it will not sell wine and beer to drive-through customers, according to the article.
Louie Lusk is a board member of CADA and a
Prevention specialist for Southeastern IL Counseling
Centers, Inc.
He may be reached by:
PH – 1-618-838-9997
E-Mail – lusksicci@hotmail.com
Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois
Dept. of Human Services.