Prevention starts with awareness and awareness starts with open conversations with our kids. According to prevention partners at Informed Families, some dangerous party drugs are
being disguised as something else and putting young people at serious risk.
A
synthetic stimulant called N,N-Dimethylpentylone (NPS) is being sold as
designer drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, but it’s far more harmful
that people realize.
A recent news article in Jacksonville, FL describes the availability of the psychoactive substance NPS on the illicit drug market of Northeast Florida. While users may think they are buying cocaine or ecstasy in some cases, they may actually be getting N,N-Dimethylpentylone, which may cause users to experience euphoria and increased energy, but harmful side effects may include hypertension, tachycardia, hyperthermia, hallucinations, dehydration, loss of consciousness, and death.
Experts like Dr. Bruce Goldberger from the University of Florida have linked this drug to violent behavior, extreme paranoia, and even fatal overdoses.
The numbers tell a scary story:
*In 2022, Florida saw 370 deaths caused by cathinones (the drug family that includes NPA)
*In 2023, that number almost doubled to 642 deaths, with cathinones found in a total of 917 cases
*Use of these synthetic drugs jumped by 67% and deaths increased by more than 73% in just one year
These numbers are not just statistics - they represent real lives lost, real families devastated, and a growing danger for young people who may not even realize the risk they are taking.
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