DAYTON â Itâs been a growing problem in the Miami Valley since they first appeared in the area Spring of 2011. Synthetic drugs and bath salts are still a thorn in the side to police and doctors.
"People some of them young some of them not, who would come into an emergency room incoherent, behaving in ways they've never behaved before in their lives" said Dr. Ryan Peirson, Chief Clinical Officer, Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS).
Since 2010, Montgomery County has documented 52 bath salt cases and 12 synthetic drug cases, but health officials believe that is just a fraction of the drugâs overall impact, since not everything gets reported.
Often synthetic drugs are used with other drugs and alcohol which increase health risk.
"The worst things have obviously been the death cases, or the cases where people have been driving under the influence of these drugs and it's resulted in their death or the death of innocent people" said Dr. Laureen Marinetti, Montgomery County Coronerâs Office.
The drugs have notoriously been difficult for police to track because of the ever changing chemical make-up.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has since cracked down on that loophole with tougher drug laws.
"We do notice once a drug is banned the use goes way down and that helps us tremendously" Dr. Dennis Mann, Miami Valley Hospital.
Thursday, a synthetic drug conference drew over 400 people composed of police, doctors, teachers that was meant to educate them about the dangers and reduce the drugâs influence in the community.
"People some of them young some of them not, who would come into an emergency room incoherent, behaving in ways they've never behaved before in their lives" said Dr. Ryan Peirson, Chief Clinical Officer, Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS).
Since 2010, Montgomery County has documented 52 bath salt cases and 12 synthetic drug cases, but health officials believe that is just a fraction of the drugâs overall impact, since not everything gets reported.
Often synthetic drugs are used with other drugs and alcohol which increase health risk.
"The worst things have obviously been the death cases, or the cases where people have been driving under the influence of these drugs and it's resulted in their death or the death of innocent people" said Dr. Laureen Marinetti, Montgomery County Coronerâs Office.
The drugs have notoriously been difficult for police to track because of the ever changing chemical make-up.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has since cracked down on that loophole with tougher drug laws.
"We do notice once a drug is banned the use goes way down and that helps us tremendously" Dr. Dennis Mann, Miami Valley Hospital.
Thursday, a synthetic drug conference drew over 400 people composed of police, doctors, teachers that was meant to educate them about the dangers and reduce the drugâs influence in the community.