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The Synthetic Drug Epidemic

The Synthetic Drug Epidemic. The Victor Orlando Woolson Foundation Educational Presentation. The victor Orlando woolson foundation Why are we here?. Victor Woolson died from synthetic drug use AFTER bans against synthetics were in place At the young age of 19

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The Synthetic Drug Epidemic

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  1. The Synthetic Drug Epidemic The Victor Orlando Woolson Foundation Educational Presentation

  2. The victor Orlando woolsonfoundationWhy are we here? • Victor Woolson died from synthetic drug use • AFTER bans against synthetics were in place • At the young age of 19 • Because they were on a store shelf, he believed them to be safe • Victor was going to college, interested in Criminal Justice • Graduated HS with an Advanced Regents Diploma • Marine Core Jr. ROTC Member • Victor was a great person • Loved by many friends & family • Kind & genuine young man • Hilarious • Never in trouble

  3. The victor Orlando woolson foundationWhy are we here? To educate about the dangers of these chemical poisons To raise awareness and push to get synthetics off the shelves of stores and out of the public eye THEY ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND KILLING MORE PEOPLE DAILY

  4. SYNTHETIC DRUG FACTS Man-made poisonous chemicals sprayed on leaves SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA: • Absolutely NOTHING like marijuana • Contains powerful chemicals called cannabimimeticsthat cause dangerous health effects • Users don’t really know exactly what chemicals they are putting into their bodies • Poison center experts – as well as many federal, state, and local government officials – have called synthetic drug use a risk to the public’s health and a hazard to public safety • 15,018closed human exposures to synthetic marijuana (THC homologs) reported to poison centers between 2011 and Jan. 31, 2014

  5. SYNTHETIC DRUG FACTS BATH SALTS • Powerful illegal drugs that have not been tested for safety • The side effects they cause may be permanent • Poison center experts say these substances are among the worst they have seen • Popular with people who are between 20 and 29 years old • Poison centers have seen bath salts exposures in a wide range of ages, from younger than 6 to older than 59

  6. SYNTHETIC DRUG FACTS Similar to the adverse effects of LSD, Cocaine & Methamphetamine, the new synthetic drugs have been known to cause the following side effects: Paranoia, and self-destructive/violent behavior Panic attacks/Agitation Suicidal thoughts/actions Aggression Increased blood pressure and heart rate/chest pain/heart attack Nausea & Vomiting Seizures, Muscle spasms & Tremors Homicidal tendencies Overstimulation Hallucinations, Delusions, Euphoria & EXTREME Paranoia Overheating that causes a person to tear off his clothes Inability to speak Restlessness Death

  7. SYNTHETIC DRUG FACTS These drugs are now the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors after marijuana.

  8. Wanna smoke? Peer pressure comes without warning Victor was leaving college one day, when another student asked if he knew of somewhere he could smoke something. Reluctantly, Victor offered his car as that place, to a complete stranger. Victor tried synthetic drugs for the first time and instantly became addicted.

  9. addiction Victor struggled with his addiction as well as suicidal and homicidal thoughts (side effects). As a result, he ended up going missing in March 2012. There was a nation-wide search out for him. His face was all over the news. He had recently made many compulsive purchases of multiple quantities of random items, bought a prepaid cell phone so people couldn’t track him, and drove at over 100 miles per hour - counties away from his family. He later said that he didn’t want to be found. Victor was found that night and was escorted to a hospital by police. There, he was showing signs of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe aggression/mood swings. This was far from normal for Victor. He was able to effectively detox from his last high over the course of several days. And because bans to illegalize new synthetics were put into place in his county while he was in the hospital, he was resolved to the fact that he could no longer purchase them.

  10. tragedy Four whole months later, one of Victor’s friends told him that the local store was still selling synthetics on the shelves and that they could purchase them legally. This store had placed these poisons on their shelves against the law. So August 9th, 2012, on his mother’s birthday, Victor and his friends got their hands on synthetic marijuana. They smoked it and then decided to go swimming in the lake nearby. Unfortunately, Victor suffered a fatal reaction from the drugs while he was in the water. His friend could not save him so he called 911. Victor drowned under the influence. Victor was pulled out of the water 20 minutes later and was rushed to the hospital. Machines kept him alive until the next day – when his body finally gave up and he left this world forever.

  11. How can you help? PLEASE REPORT ALL SYNTHETIC USE, SALES & DISTRIBUTORS HERE: Synthetic Drug Hotline 1-888-99-SALTS (1-888-997-2587) Save a life – especially your own - by saying no to peer pressure and spreading the word about the dangers of these chemical poisons!

  12. REsources There is an abundance of information on our website. There are news articles and videos of our foundation’s efforts as well as links to more information/tragedies involving synthetic drugs. www.vow-foundation.org We are also on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TheVowFoundationInc

  13. In loving memory of Victor Woolson Rip 1993 - 2012

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