SUPERINTENDENT
John P. Collins, Ed.D.
(858) 521-2700
FAX (858) 485-1075
jcollins@powayusd.com
Tina McDowell
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
(858) 521-2703
FAX (858) 485-1075
tmcdowell@powayusd.com
Marlene Cowell
Executive Assistant to the Board
(858) 521-2704 FAX (858) 485-1075
mcowell@powayusd.com
Sharon Raffer
Director of Communications
(858) 521-2707 FAX (858) 485-1075
sraffer@powayusd.com
John P. Collins, Ed.D.
March 12, 2012
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As Superintendent of the Poway Unified School District, my highest priority is to ensure that our schools provide a safe environment where every student feels respected, connected, and engaged in learning. Unfortunately one of the major challenges in achieving this goal is the problem of substance abuse among our students, a problem that impacts all of us.
As parents we need to be aware of all the substances that can be abused by youth. Two synthetic drugs that are becoming popular among young people and are causing intense emotional and physical reactions are Spice, or K2, and “Bath Salts”.
Spice or K2 is a type of synthetic compound. The drug is typically sold online, in convenience stores, and in herbal or spiritual shops, and is usually marketed as incense. The herbs, sold in plastic bags of dried leaves, sell for as much as $35 an ounce, and have emerged as an alternative to marijuana among teenagers and college students. According to research, Spice can cause a lengthy bout of psychosis in some users. Symptoms include auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and thoughts of suicide.
Synthetic stimulants that are marketed as “bath salts” are chemicals which are synthetic derivatives of cathinone, a central nervous system stimulant. They can cause severe side effects, including rapid heart rate (which may lead to heart attacks or strokes), paranoia, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and sometimes violent behavior. Bath Salts are called by names such as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple Sky,” and “Bliss,” and labeled as “not for human consumption”. Banned in California and some other states, Bath Salts can still be found in convenience stores and mini marts, often located with candy products and packaged in containers attractive to kids.
For more information about Spice and Bath Salts please see the links below.
In December, the School Board and I discussed ways that we as a school district could work collaboratively with the community to address these issues. In early January, school and community representatives planned three public forums at our high schools regarding substance abuse. They were held on January 25th, February 1st, and February 15th.
We recognize that as a school system we play a major role on the effects and consequences of substance abuse, but we also know that this is not only a school problem. This is a community-wide problem and we need your help to address these issues.
We will continue our efforts at the school and district level. Hopefully as parents you can use these ideas and tools when you address these issues with your own children. As a parent myself, I fully understand how difficult this can be, especially with young teenagers, but I’m also painfully aware of the consequences if we don’t educate our children and help them with these issues. Working together I know we can make a positive difference to help our children.
Links:
PUSD Website: Drug and Alcohol Prevention:
http://www.powayusd.com/Schools/safety/
Drug Fact Sheet: K2 or Spice
Drug Fact Sheet: Bath Salts
Sincerely,
John P. Collins, Ed.D.
Superintendent