Recent events have brought some tough questions and unrelenting truths to the forefront:

In a world where “designer drugs” such as bath salts (which contain hardcore stimulants mimicking the effects of cocaine) and synthetic Marijuana (K2) are skirting the law, what is the ethical choice to resolve our communities drug problems?

Is the war on drugs lost to a new breed of drugs with compounds which are modified daily to stay under the watchful eye of the FDA, DEA and local law enforcement?

Will these new drugs, which are are stronger, more dangerous, and cheaper than the drugs we have grown accustomed to destroy our community from the inside out?

All drugs are dangerous. Some drugs that have therapeutic purposes are extremely dangerous and have dreadful side effects.

“Bath salts” have no health benefits and only unacceptable risks.

Symptoms, such as fast heart beat, dangerously elevated blood pressure, pale skin and vomiting suggest that K2 is affecting the cardiovascular system of users. It also is believed to affect the central nervous system, causing severe, potentially life-threatening hallucinations and, in some cases, seizures.

As parents, teachers, friends and neighbors, we must be vigilant in the fight against “designer drugs.” They are here but they don’t have to stay.