THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED

OFFICIAL RELEASE:
Sweetwater, FL – The City of Sweetwater Synthetic Drug Forum has been postponed. In the wake of current events, we have decided to put the event on hold until the fall to ensure that we are able to reach out to a maximum audience. Many people are on alert and may be hesitant to attend.

We are looking to reschedule in the event in the same venue in late September. Nothing will change that has been discussed up to this point except for the date.

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Synthetic Drug Forum at FIU
Wednesday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Florida International University’s Wertheim Performing Arts Center
10910 SW 17th Street
Sweetwater, FL

The City of Sweetwater Synthetic Drug Forum is free and has been tailored to address parents, educators and other interested community members in an interactive environment through multi-media and personal accounts. It has been scheduled at a time when most will not have to miss work to attend.

We have put together a panel that will address how recently adopted laws are working to combat synthetic drugs sales, what can be done stop synthetic drugs sales via the internet, how to spot the signs of synthetic drug use, what type of testing is needed to detect synthetic drugs, the medical treatment needed for someone who is under the influence of synthetic drugs, what to do if one suspects that another person is under the influence of synthetic drugs, treatments available for drug addiction, and what is ahead in the battle to stop synthetic drug sales and use.

The panel includes FIU professor and psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Junquera, FIU Chief of Police Alex Casas, Baptist Health addiction treatment expert David Vittoria, Baptist Health Medical Director of Addiction Treatment Dr. John Eustace, Miami-Dade County Police Crime Laboratory Forensic Chemistry Chief Oliver Spicer, Miami-Dade County Assistant State Attorney Drug Court Prosecutor Akilah Bain, FBI Drug Task Force Agent Hector Ortiz and DEA Special Agent Oscar Negron.

There will also be a testimony by Maureen Barret, the mother of two young adults who died a few years apart with evidence of mainstream and synthetic drugs in their system. Her daughter-in-law also died due to a drug overdose. She recently was part of a documentary on the drug epidemic in America, “Oxycotin Express,” and she sits on the governor’s board for drug and substance abuse.

City of Sweetwater Mayor Manny Maroño will moderate the event.

The conference will be webcast live and municipalities nationwide will be invited to watch and learn how to communicate this important information to their residents.

This event is hosted by Florida International University and sponsored by Baptist Health South Florida. There will food and refreshments available.