Meehan Plans Forum On Drugs in High Schools

U.S. Congressman Pat Meehan (R-PA7) is holding a community forum next Tuesday on the rise in synthetic drug use in area high schools.

The meeting will be Tuesday, May 29 at 2 p.m. in King of Prussia.

While not often talked about by the school administration, drugs are a concern at . Police recently conducted Students who have spoken to Patch in the wake of, and comments posted on indicate that while drugs are clearly not the prevailing culture in the school, they are accessible.

Meehan's forum addresses so-called "bath salts" synthetic drugs which are outlawed in Pennsylvania but legal in nearby states, making them easy to get.

Here's the text of Meehan's announcement:

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA7) will host a forum on Tuesday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss synthetic drugs, commonly sold as “bath salts”, which is reportedly on the rise in many Southeastern Pennsylvania high schools. Although these drugs were recently made illegal in Pennsylvania, they remain legal in many other states - making it easy to purchase them online.

In December, the House of Representatives passed the Synthetic Drug Control Act (H.R. 1254), a bill introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) but the bill continues to await Senate action. Meehan, a cosponsor of the bill, continues to call on the Senate to pass this bill and ban these extremely dangerous drugs.

 WHO:       U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07)

Risa Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney

Dr. Barry K. Logan, Director of Forensic and Toxicological Services at NMS Labs and Nationally recognized expert on synthetic drugs

Representatives from:

Community Alliance for a Safer Tomorrow for Upper Merion School District

Upper Merion School District Community Counselor

Upper Merion Township Police Department

Montgomery County Health Department

WHAT:      Discussion on synthetic drug usage

WHEN:      2:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 29, 2012

435 Crossfield Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406