KRLD Investigation: Synthetic Drugs Particularly Tough For Parents And Authorities To Tackle
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The fight for parents to protect their children from street drugs is generations old. But the landscape is changing. In fact, if you haven't checked-out what the pushers are peddling in the last 10-years you are probably behind the curve. Synthetic drugs are invading North Texas at an alarming rate.
KRLD Investigative Series: Synthetic Drugs:
- Part 1: Frisco father talks about losing son to synthetic drugs
- Part 2: Synthetic drug use highest in downtown Dallas area
- Part 4: Recovery from Synthetic Drugs Is Possible - But So Is Permanent Damage
What were the problem drugs when you were in school? Weed? Acid? Snow? Now it's more like N-bomb, K-2, Spice, and the innocent sounding bath salts. The synthetic drug scene now is much different than it was just 5-years ago. Different, and far more available.
"We bring the synthetic drugs onto the stuff we are already dealing with for decades. And there's a lot more of it out there. And a lot more attractiveness. Of course you've got the availability increase with the internet and social media and that kind of stuff," said Plano Police Sergeant Courtney Perro.
Sgt. Perro is on the front-line. He's not only a narcotics officer, he's a face of the Collin County substance abuse coalition. He's been watching as the synthetic drugs do their corrosive damage with lethal efficiency. Perro says, "I also believe that there's this believe amongst the among drug users, mostly, and to the parents to a great extent, that drugs are, I don't want to use the word safe, but are less dangerous. And It simply isn't the case. We've got documented deaths from all different substances. All the ones you just mentioned from across the country certainly rebuts that theory."
So where is this stuff coming from? Drug agents say the base powder for many of the synthetic forms comes from the Orient. The powder is cut and mixed...packaged and distributed. Often right under the parent's nose.
"K-2 is white powder that's non distinguishable. Sprayed on. This stuff is not the same. Sprayed on benign plant material," Perro said. A street cop could see the white powder on the front seat of a car and not know what it is. And as we learned there isn't any field test to prove what it is.
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