Health Care Providers Educated on Newer 'Designer' Drugs

Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center recently partnered with the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) to educate health care providers on the latest mind-altering drugs that are being consumed by Americas youth and greatly impacting the Long Beach community.

Over 50 medical staff including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists learned how to recognize the signs, symptoms, effects and risk factors of these growingly popular drugs. “Every community is at continual risk of an increase usage of drugs among our youth. As a nurse and parent myself, I value the need to educate on the latest and most popular drugs on the streets and in our schools,” stated Kathy Dollarhide, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center, Director, Disaster Resource Center.

Sergeant Timothy Long, Drug Investigator for the LBPD, shared dozens of designer drugs, a wide variety of new THC candies, including gummy worms and lollypops, as well as THC drinks targeting teens with growing popularity.

According to emergency room clinicians, St. Mary Medical Center has seen an increase in emergency visits from youth in our community who are suffering from ingestion of edible drugs. Partnership between health care professionals and local law enforcement is essential to drug education, awareness, and injury prevention in our community.

Several media partners were in attendance to share this important information with parents of young children, what to look for, and to encourage open discussion of this dangerous new trend.

Submitted by St. Mary Medical Center