McClellan: Mesa High drug incident reinforces ongoing spice, bath salts problem
Mike McClellan
Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and former English teacher at Dobson High School in Mesa.
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26 comments:
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Engaged Voter posted at 2:03 pm on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
"Get rid of every single ...UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC DAVIS, UC SANTA CRUZ, LONG BEACH STATE, BEZERKLEY AND UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO .... LEFT-WING LIBERAL TEACHER IN OUR GRAMMER SCHOOLS, "
But Leon, then who will be left to teach our children how to spell GRAMMAR?
I love it when idiots expose themselves. ;)
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:52 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
Mesa High was just evacuated today, Mike. Just goes to show how our Educational System is defunct. Get rid of every single ...UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC DAVIS, UC SANTA CRUZ, LONG BEACH STATE, BEZERKLEY AND UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO .... LEFT-WING LIBERAL TEACHER IN OUR GRAMMER SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND STATE UNIVERSITIES.
....................C.L.E.A.N....H.O.U.S.E.......GET RID OF THE ALL PERVASIVE DRUG CULTURE THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF. A PRODUCT OF THE ULTRA-LEFT SOCIALIST AGENDA TAUGHT IN CALIFORNIA.
DonMey posted at 8:24 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
I don't like the permanence of the solution. I think the bill would have been better off if it gave the board the authority to temporarily ban a substance, which would then have to be approved by the legislature within a year or so to remain in effect.
Engaged Voter posted at 6:06 pm on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
One of the oldest working definitions of Insanity is "trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results".
Now, we all know Leon is insane...what about the rest of you? ;)
Mike McClellan posted at 4:23 pm on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
Thanks for the clarification.
Rich posted at 1:50 pm on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
Would probably involve trying other things, but when you rely on something that doesn't work, chances are you won't find anything that does.
Mike McClellan posted at 1:06 pm on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
So the alternative to the "old, tired, ineffectual solution"?
Rich posted at 11:57 am on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
The problem with prohibition is that it doesn't work and generally aggravates the problem it sets out to cure. Banning heroin, marijuana, (name any other drug) has not stopped them from being a growth industry. We haven't had a problem with alcohol in this country since they passed the Volstead Act have we? Prohibition is a simple minded solution to a very complex problem and it is chock full of unintended consequences as well as being ineffective. There seems to be a problem, but to apply and old, tired, and ineffectual solution to it hardly seems wise.
mrconservative posted at 10:57 am on Wed, Oct 31, 2012.
My brother goes to Mesa High (he's a junior) and I've never heard of this incident with spice and bath salts happening. I'll have to ask him about it.
I saw your "column" in the Mesa Republic last week, Mike. You, know, that "tabloid" that comes out two or three times a week in the Arizona Republic (which, to my shock, endorsed Mitt Romney for president - [smile] ). I found it interesting. A bit negative, but interesting.
Accuracy posted at 8:24 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Mike McClellan concluded: “But certainly more kids will be damaged by their use of bath salts….”
Very true. But, more and more are getting high on prescription drugs. Pain killers like vicodin, oxycontin and valium are becoming the second most abused addictive drugs, behind marijuana.
Drugs are Drugs – Pill popping nation – America’s growing addiction.
Legal drugs (prescriptions) can cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects and can cause drug addiction. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs help millions of people with devastating diseases and chronic conditions. But in the process, these medications can also deplete the body’s natural stores of vitamins, minerals, and hormones — the very nutrients needed to keep energy levels high, fend off infections, and to be healthy.
samkat posted at 5:19 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Mike: Here you are arguing against bath salts and then hint that you might be doing them. :-)
Mike McClellan posted at 4:42 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Leon, I'd have to conclude that based on the fact we agree here, one of us is using bath salts . . .
TempeTownToilet posted at 1:40 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Of course the real problem is safe drugs like marijuana have been made illegal, so kids afraid of being arrested use legal, but unsafe drugs like spice or bath salts to get high.
The government created this problem by starting it's insane and unconstitutional "war on drugs"
Legalize drugs and the problem of kids using potentially dangerous drugs like spice and bath salts will go away when the kids switch to smoking safe marijuana.
commonsenseaintcommon posted at 1:17 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
It's time to stop playing footsie with the retailers of these dangerous products and as citizens we can take action. Maybe we need a few highly publicized lynchings to get the point across.
Mike McClellan posted at 1:15 pm on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Ono, the fact checker Politifact reports the 45 in critical care -- here's the link:
http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2012/apr/09/nathan-deal/deal-fake-marijuana-use-rising-connected-death-vio/
But let me ask you this: You mention alcohol as a legal substance that causes all kinds of health problems -- right you are.
So your logic is this: Since we already have legal substances like alcohol, why not keep spice or bath salts legal, too.
Really?
Carolyn posted at 11:13 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
...and by the way, ANYTHING Eddie Farnsworth is "for," the citizens of this area should be against. That just might apply to Linda Gray as well.
Carolyn posted at 11:11 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
There's a big difference between "spice" (mimics marijuana) and "bath salts" (mimics meth and/or cocaine. Anyone going overboard over "spice" seems ridiculous - but REAL marijuana should have been legalized 45 years ago, and "spice" wouldn't even have existed. Marijuana is non-addictive and relativly harmless - if alcohol (definitely addictive) is legal, marijuana shoud be. Many PRESCRIPTION drugs are more addictive and/or lethal than lots of hard, illegal drugs. "Bath Salts" probably needs to be looked at more carefully and made illegal if, indeed, it is causing deaths. However, those of ANY age who want drugs, illegal or legal, are going to get them. Now THAT's a scientific fact. Where there's a market, there will be suppliers.
Mom O 4 posted at 10:18 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
I hate to sound nieve....these are high school students we are speaking of, right? Where is the parent involvement?
Here is what I know...if you get caught in a Mesa school say..drinking, the district suspends you and disallows you from returning to school until the student AND his/her parent take part in an awareness class about substance and alcohol abuse. If this is a drug, that means to my understanding as a mother of high school students, not allowed on campus.
So the district needs to add these synthetic drugs to their list of "drugs" that students face a penalty over if they are caught in the possession of or under the influence of. If you say it's impossible for parents to be vigilant about their kids actions while in school? I will tell you that you are full of it...I know a lot of parents that are including myself!
Once a parent is REQUIRED to attend these classes with their children under the threat that they are not allowed in school until they complete mandated classes...it becomes a different story. The class is presented as a rude awakening and I remember some of the parents who claimed their child was being verbally abused after the instructor dismissed them for their swagging pants or inability to articulate where to write their names on lines.
Shoot, I remember seeing a girl in that class as young as a 5th grade in the posession of marijuana laced with LSD! . Her Mom claimed she didnt know a thing...than again a father of one of the girls who was busted right alongside my daughter blamed my daughter claiming his darling daughter "would NEVER do something like that"....PUHHHLLLLLEEZE! Kids are kids...but we as parents need to step up so our children dont become a statistc that Mr. McClellan factually speaks of.
Ok, so Eddie Farnsworth shot it down...as a parent of a student who was busted drinking Rum on campus...enough parents should be able to go to the school board and ask that this is added to the "drug" list. Any parent can speak to the Board...it just takes a little effort and involvement in your child's life! You're there to be a parent not to be their friend...
Synthetic or Organic..the case in point is that there is no place for drugs on campus! Dont get me started on cigarettes...
suej1962 posted at 10:06 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
I am NOT a scientist...but I am a parent and an Addiction Counselor for over 30 years now. What are we as a nation going to do to start combating this drug problem that we have....and I don't want to hear about politics...
suej1962 posted at 10:02 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
We are talking about SPICE and BATH SALTS here...NOT ALCOHOL!! I have watched young people deteriorate mentally from using both of these drugs over the past year or so and it is becoming a BIG problem...As parents we need to get together and change some laws regarding these drugs and start holding the manufacturing companies responsible for what happens to these kids and young adults. My son was using spice and he became so mentally unstable that he had to be placed into a psychiatric facility for over a year...as of yet he has not returned to normal in his mind...I know that there are many other drugs that cause the same kinds of problems but these two NEW drugs need immediate attention...
downtownresident posted at 9:33 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Sounds to me like Eddie Farnsworth, and his pack of thieves, may be selling illegal drugs.
Why else would they fight a sensible bill like this. There has to be money in it for them SOMEWHERE!!!!!!
I just can't believe that they are so grossly ignorant.
Onondogagrll posted at 9:31 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
And what does this mean "died while on bath salts"? Car crash? Suicide? Heart attacks? 20 people in Arizona or the whole country? Is this like the policeman who "died in the line of duty" while a passenger in his car on his day off. Semantics. Words mean things after all and meanings and truth are relative.
Onondogagrll posted at 9:27 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
I Am a scientist but I mention this not because it makes my opinion worth any more. I only want to show why I am trying to consider the facts and not REACT without them.Mr. McClellan, I am sure people do stupid things while on spice and bath salts. I am not so sure the CAUSE of their stupidity would be the substance they are abusing.Why were 45 people in Georgia on the critical care unit? I can find no sources for this. Alcohol abuse causes many many deaths and hospitalizations. (and is blamed for MANY assaults and murders) Why not outlaw drinking if some people can't handle it? It is the same position you are taking only multiply the damage by 1000.
Mike McClellan posted at 9:02 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
As of last year, at least 20 people have died as of August while on spice or salts. In addition, you might remember the Phoenix man earlier this month who said he was high on spice and beat his 18-month old daughter, almost to death. Or the Minnesota truck driver high on spice who plowed into another trucker who died at the scene from the accident. In Georgia alone, in 2011, 45 people were hospitalized in critical care units after using spice.
Buddha posted at 9:02 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Onon-
"scientist" ??? THINK? I think you're full of poopoo
Onondogagrll posted at 8:34 am on Tue, Oct 30, 2012.
Is this article about bath salts or spice? When has anyone ever died or been injured by spice? Please explain. Everything on earth is dangerous if used incorrectly, and I assure you almost everyone coming to the emergency room for bath salts have underlying problems (mental) and have gone way overboard. I do not use these legal things but as a scientist I would like us to calm down and THINK.