Letter to our AR Senators Asking For Their Support

Hello Senator,



Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I will start by introducing myself. My name is Erin Hunt. I’ve been working in the drug testing industry for almost 5 years. I am 27 years old and working towards my bachelors to become an expert in the industry. At this time I’m only an advocate but personally I think I’m an expert (don’t we all). Drug testing right now, as you know, is federally mandated for federal workers under the Department of Transportation. There is an Arkansas Drug Free Workplace Program in effect that employers can pick up and use to help with their cost for Workers Comp insurance and it mimics the DOT rules and regulations. This program is fantastic and all companies that use it, love it! We are now coming face to face with another growing issue: drug use and abuse with students in schools.



On April 11 and April 29, in two separate counties, with two separate families, two 11 year old boys died from overdosing on Methadone. Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, similar to morphine. It also reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs without causing the "high" associated with the drug addiction. Taking methadone improperly will increase your risk of serious side effects or death. Even if you have used other narcotic medications, you may still have serious side effects from methadone. The April 11th case is still under investigation. The April 29th case hit very close to home because he was my friend’s youngest son. She’s not getting many answers at this time but what she does know is her son received the drugs at school by another student who was 13 years old. When she was asked where she got the drugs she told police she stole them from her Grandmother’s purse. Typically Methadone is given in a clinic setting and not in a prescription form. There are special Methadone clinics that specialize in prescribing and administering this drug. The Grandmother is being investigated as well.



Everyone involved in this story would have benefited from drug awareness and education:

1. The Grandmother needed the education and awareness of what drugs she had and was using, the effects of them, and how their children could be gaining access to them and the ultimate consequences.

2. The 13 year old would have known or at least been aware of how dangerous taking other peoples prescriptions as well as the illegal aspects of it and the dangers that arise from giving it to other students.

3. The parents of the 11 year old boy would have known how to talk to their son about the dangers of drugs and prescription drugs and what to do if another student gives him something that he may not know what it is.

4. The 11 year old would have known to say no and would be alive today.



Here is what I’m finding out from students, parents, and teachers:

-Students are choosing prescription drugs more than meth, marijuana, and cocaine.

-Students are getting most of these prescription drugs in the home.

-In some cases, kids as young as 11 are using prescription drugs and smoking cigarettes.

-If you ask a student what they think drugs are they will say everything but prescription drugs. (Typically because a doctor prescribes it, therefore it seems harmless.)

-Most prescription drugs are no bigger than a vitamin. Most cannot tell the difference.

-Prescription drugs are not detectable by a drug dog. Although very effective for other drugs, prescription drugs are harder to catch.

-Some schools are testing student athletes but not the student body. There are some schools that search students and their backpacks with metal detectors but feel drug testing is too invasive.

-Some private schools are testing the entire student body and catch at least 1-2 students each year abusing drugs including prescription medication.



Possible solution to this problem:

State Mandated Testing and Awareness: for all schools from the 4th grade to 12th grade.

There are 2 possible ways to do a drug testing program: instant testing (which is what the Arkansas DHS is using for probation and in home testing) or lab based testing

What you will need: A Medical Review Officer for positive drug tests, a confirmation laboratory to confirm positive drug tests(Baptist Hospital owns Medical Laboratories of Arkansas and it is a HHS recognized laboratory), and specimen collectors (school nurses or outside party to handle the collections)

A school drug testing policy: stipulations for the drug test including bad behavior, reasonable suspicion, or other. Consequences for finding drugs in their system including a follow up program and meeting with a Substance Abuse Professional ( which I have).

Drug awareness programs: The D.A.R.E. program is a great way to spread awareness as well as at PTA meetings and once a year refresher courses for teachers to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse.



I am in the process of receiving letters from several private school principals in the Little Rock area who are drug testing their students, the benefits of the program, and if they would recommend it. I am emailing several Senators because this is a statewide issue. This is something I have been working on for the last 2 years and hope to help the state of Arkansas come to a resolution in its fight with drug use and abuse in our schools. If we don’t do something soon, this could be more out of control than it already is.



Because I work for a drug testing company I have many resources that could benefit this program including connections with a Medical Review Officer, Instant Testing Devices, Substance Abuse Professional, Signs and Symptoms training for teachers and parents, and guest speak at PTA’s and Schools. I can also help to set up the laboratory for confirmation testing and train all collectors that will need to be trained. I would be glad to talk to you about getting this started or even advice on where to begin. This can be a very simple process and cost can be really low too. If I can get the green light from someone I can start getting the pricing as well as more information and programs set up.



I hope to hear from you soon and thank you for representing this great state of Arkansas! You hard work does not go unnoticed.



Sincerely,



Erin Hunt

K2 Synthetic Marijuana - What do you know?

I'm doing some research on this growing substance that is called K2 which is a synthetic Marijuana. According to users it is legal, can be found in most head shops, and gives you the same feelings as Marijuana. Arkansas is beginning to ban this in several counties. Below is from Arkansas's Fox 16 news:



Arkansas could be the next state to ban K2. It's a form of synthetic marijuana made of herbs and it’s available to anyone who wants to buy it. As K2's popularity soars, lawmakers are looking to shut it down.

It's one of the biggest sellers at Abby Road on south University in Little Rock.

"Probably half our profit daily, I would say we sell close to $2,000 worth of K2 a day," says employee Matt Taylor.

K2 is an herbal smoking blend sprayed with a synthetic that mimics the effects of marijuana. And for it customers will gladly pay $40 plus.

While K2 is popular among its customers a couple states bordering Arkansas including Kansas and Missouri have already decided to ban it.

And state Senator David Johnson D-Little Rock expects Arkansas to join them after the Department of Health weighs in next month.

"I expect their opinion will be consistent with the materials that I’ve read which is K2 presents a real danger to the people, especially the children who might be interested in finding out about K2," Johnsons says.

Employee Matt Taylor thinks the state should regulate K2, even tax it more, but not ban it.

"It would be great economic stimulation for sure," Taylor says. “If you're not hurting anybody, not hurting anything, I don't see what's wrong with it, people love it."

"They could use that argument about any controlled substance, any illegal drug,” Johnson says. But the state has got to draw a line at some point about whether it is better to raise revenue or its better to protect the people’s health."

Until that line is drawn, K2 will remain a hot seller in Little Rock.

Although K2 is legal in Arkansas, smaller municipalities are taking action against it. Alpena, Greenwood and Springdale have already banned the sale of the substance.


Copyright 2010 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Reported by: David Goins
Email: dgoins@fox16.com
Last Update: 5/21 7:30 pm

(http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/State-lawmakers-to-examine-effects-of-K2/bfNpaSHsfkOAw7Esn5AdRA.cspx?rss=315)