White House Drug Policy Director to Hold Media Briefing to Address Emergence of Synthetic Drugs

White House Drug Policy Director to Hold Media Briefing to Address Emergence of Synthetic Drugs

Director Kerlikowske, The Partnership at Drugfree.org to Urge Increased Vigilance Among Parents

(Washington, D.C.) – Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and President Obama’s top drug policy advisor, will hold a pen and pad media briefing on Thursday, February 16^th to discuss the emergence of synthetic drugs. The briefing will take place immediately following a working session co-hosted by ONDCP and The Partnership at Drugfree.org to share data and discuss the public and private sector response to the threat. He will be joined by Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, who will share resources and discuss actions parents and adult influencers can take to protect young people from negative consequences.

 

Often marketed as legal substances, synthetic drugs are sometimes labeled as “herbal incense” or “bath salts” and sold in small pouches or packets over the Internet, in tobacco and smoke shops, drug paraphernalia shops, gas stations, and convenience stores.  In December, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released new information indicating that one in nine high school seniors had used “Spice” or “K2” over the past year, making synthetic marijuana the second most frequently used illicit drug, after marijuana, among high school seniors.  Poison Control Centers operating across the Nation have also reported sharp increases in the number of calls relating to synthetic drugs.

Who:	Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)  Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org   Deborah A. Carr, Executive Director of American Association of Poison Control Centers   Amy Stillwell, Kentucky resident who nearly lost her daughter after use of synthetic marijuana
What:	Pen and Pad Media BriefingNews media must RSVP to [email protected] (Call-in number can be provided upon request.)
When:	Thursday, February 16th11:00 a.m. EST (media must arrive no later than 10:45am for security processing)
Where:	Office of National Drug Control Policy  Office of National Drug Control Policy 750 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20006

 

For more information about the Office of National Drug Control Policy, visit:

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP

###

Tags: White House Drug Policy Director to Hold Media Briefing to Address Emergence of Synthetic Drugs

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 5:00 am and is filed under Addiction Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.