DIXFIELD — The Western Foothills School District hasn’t had any disciplinary issues surrounding the use of bath salts by students, but Superintendent Tom Ward said Tuesday that he believes the potent, dangerous synthetic drug is out there.
“The major issue is with people who are or previously were drug users,” he said. “They are more apt to use it, while there are also people who will experiment.”
Ward and others from Regional School Unit 10 attended a forum by medical experts and first responders earlier this month. As a result, the district has agreed to work with the Rumford Police Department on presentations in the schools. These sessions will be primarily directed at middle and high school students, he said.
He said a plan should be in place to begin presentations the first of the new year.
In-house social workers and guidance counselors will be involved, as well as medical experts when the PowerPoint presentations are made.
During the community forum earlier this month, representatives from Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and a police officer from Bangor were among the presenters. Bangor has been hit particularly hard with the use of bath salts, Ward said.
Ward said at Monday’s board meeting that the follow-up school presentations are aimed at raising awareness of the drug.
Rumford board member Tracey Higley said a public forum is also planned, along with more networking with other experts who have been involved with battling the use of the drug by students and others.
Jessica Hinds, a Peru board member, said she and her son attended the first forum on the drug.
“There’s no way this doesn’t affect our lives,” she said.
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