Pubdate: Wed, 30 Apr 2014
Source: Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Coastline Pilot
Contact:  http://www.coastlinepilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5352
Author: Bryce Alderton

EXPERTS TO ADDRESS TEEN DRUG USE TRENDS

An Orange County Superior Court judge, Mission Hospital's emergency
services director and a sheriff's deputy will discuss recent drug-use
trends in Orange County at a public meeting May 12 in the Laguna Beach
High School library.

Laguna Beach Unified School District middle and high school students
and parents are invited to attend "OC REALITY- Electronic Cigarettes
and other Drug Trends ... What Every Parent and Student Should Know."

Speakers will touch on a variety of topics, from e-cigarette use to
the types of drugs that doctors see in patients who enter emergency
rooms, according to a district news release.

Mike Ritter, Mission Hospital's emergency services medical director,
said Orange County has a heroin epidemic. He will also talk about
prescription drug abuse.

Superior Court Judge John Adams said he has seen a plethora of cases
involving drug use.

"Our courts are overwhelmed with felony drug cases, many involving
young adults just out of high school," he said in the release. "The
scourge of drug addiction knows no social or economic bounds. It is an
epidemic every bit as dangerous as a virulent disease."

Sheriff's Deputy Brian Gunsolley will discuss e-cigarettes and drug
and alcohol trends.

A 13-minute version of "Overtaken," a documentary about drug abuse
told through young adults' stories, will also be shown, according to
the film's Facebook page.

The event, a collaboration with California Youth Services, will take
place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 625 Park Ave. Exhibits are
available for viewing in the quad from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Parents and students interested in attending are asked to reserve a
space by May 9 by emailing Laguna Beach High Assistant Principal
Robert Billinger at  ---
MAP posted-by: Matt