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Velazquez Bill Dedicates Federal Funds to Target “K2” Drug

June 19, 2017

Velázquez Bill Dedicates Federal Funds to Target “K2” Drug

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today unveiled legislation to combat the rise of synthetic marijuana. Commonly known as "K2" or "Spice", the bill comes in the wake of a surge in overdoses from the drug. The "Synthetic Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Education Act" deploys federal resources to educate the public on the dangers of these substances and focuses on at-risk populations.

"Overdoses from synthetic marijuana in Brooklyn in recent years are cause for profound concern," said Velázquez. "When users have no way of knowing what exactly is in the substance, there is an even greater threat to the public health."

Under the bill, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention would be mandated to develop a comprehensive strategy on preventing and treating the use of synthetic recreational drugs like "K2". Additionally, the Secretary of Health would coordinate with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency to create a database of substances that may be determined by CDC to qualify as a synthetic drug.

"Since we do not have a full understanding of how it affects users and how to treat its rise, this study will give us a full accounting of what works best," Velázquez added. "It is vital we take steps at all levels of government to address the growth of synthetic marijuana and protect our communities."

Velázquez's bill authorizes the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide grants for federally qualified health centers so they can embark on public awareness campaigns within local communities. The Act would authorize the Director of the CDC to make grants up to $250,000 in aggregate of $5 million over the next two years for such efforts.

The bill also requires multiple federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop a national outreach campaign that will educate law enforcement, local and state agencies and healthcare providers about synthetic drugs.

According to General Arthur T. Dean, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) CEO and Chairman, "the Synthetic Drug Prevention and Treatment Education Act could not have been introduced at a more critical time. Given the prevalence and dangers of synthetic drugs, it is so important that a national outreach campaign be authorized to educate all community sectors about the detrimental effects of synthetic drugs, raise public awareness about how to best prevent their use and treat those who are addicted. CADCA is particularly thankful that this bill acknowledges the critical role Drug-Free Community coalitions play in comprehensively working on prevention strategies that include all the key stakeholders in a community as the partner organization that federally-qualified health centers may coordinate with to increase public awareness and prevent the use of synthetic drugs in the new grant program."

The measure is co-sponsored by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY).

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