Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2014
Source: Amherst News (CN NS)
Copyright: TC Media 2014
Contact:  http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379
Author: Shirley Hallee
Page: 14

SPECIAL TRAINING NEEDED FOR DRUG DEALERS

Dr. Brian Ferguson has come up with a really novel idea. He would like
to see to it that drug dealers receive training related to their
trade. It might be a degree in pharmacology, or at the very least a
bachelor's degree in chemistry.

The problem - as Dr. Ferguson has noted - is that those who are
selling drugs have no idea what the impact will be on their customers.
They don't have enough knowledge, good common sense, and concern to
warn the person who might be tempted to "experience" the effects of
oxycodone and/or hydromorphone ... or one of the so-called designer
drugs being sold on the street.

In the last year this physician has seen the deaths of young people
due to overdose.

One young person showed up for treatment at the emergency room - after
using a drug - with a heart rate of 170 beats per minute. The normal
heart rate for a young person is 70 beats, or less.

Dr. Ferguson also told me about a young man who tried a "special" type
of marijuana ... named after an assault weapon. The stuff really
assaulted his mind. For many, many hours - going into nearly a span of
two days - his behaviour was frenzied, ultimately resulting in danger
to himself and others.

Unfortunately, the majority of those impacted by the lack of knowledge
of the drug dealers are the young. They might pop a pill at a party,
drink some alcohol and begin to feel really tired - decide to take a
short nap ... and never wake up. There are horror stories of the
ravages to young bodies and minds from crystal meth. So many young
people are drug naive in they are not regular users ... their bodies
do not know how to deal with these drugs. In addition to the fact
these drugs are dangerous there is no quality control related to
street drugs. Many drugs are laced with other substances and some
drugs are over the top in potency.

If the reader hasn't yet realized that Dr. Ferguson was expressing his
opinion in a "tongue-in-cheek" manner, I am now letting you know that
was exactly the case.

This well known physician spoke to me a number of years ago about his
concern with so many young people showing up at the emergency room
with alcohol poisoning.

At that time he stated parents need to realize their child may be one
of those needing treatment unless that child fully understands the
impact alcohol can have on them. He stated it would be wise to let
their young person experience the effects of a drink in the safety of
the home ... in much the same way families in Europe introduce their
children to alcohol.

Under no circumstances should experiencing drugs be a part of
parenting. Dr. Ferguson wants to see more extensive drug education in
the schools - but most of all he wants young people and their parents
to fully understand that a first-time use of a drug can be the end of
life. After all, drug dealers have no medical training. They don't
know what they are selling ... and they likely don't care.

Come to think of it - the ideal classroom for drug dealers might have
bars on the windows and some very high stone walls surrounding the
campus.
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