Emerging Drugs. Abusing painkillers. Snorting synthetic cocaine. What’s next?

We live in a society where new drugs are produced all the time. We’re also seeing new ways to abuse old drugs.

Today, many teens are getting high off taking OxyContin. Others are snorting fake cocaine masqueraded as “bath salt.”

Tomorrow, who knows what the trend will be?

What’s troubling is that teens are steadily turning away from hard-to-find street drugs like cocaine and heroin and using easier-to-reach pharmaceuticals, synthetic drugs, and other kinds of drugs to get high.

Studies show that youths view abusing drugs like prescription pills as safer than illegal drugs -- and parents are unaware of the problem.

Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition’s Emerging Drugs Task Force is working on:

Advocating change to Schedule 1 drugs which have a high tendency for abuse and have no accepted medical use.

Raising public awareness. Each time a dangerous drug surfaces, local police officers and anti-drug advocate are writing letters, contacting legislators, and talking with news media and parents to bring attention to the potential for harm.

Keeping an eye out for next big thing. Sometimes harmful new drugs are in the community long before authorities know about them. Our members are making sure that doesn’t happen often. They are in constant contact with parents, store owners, teachers and youths to get the latest information on new drugs.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the Emerging Drugs Task Force can call Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition at 561-844-5952 or contact Executive Director Jeff Kadel at jeffkadel@pbcsac.org.