Recent drug charges against five Anne Arundel County teenagers should be a wake-up call to area parents, experts say.
“The Baltimore metropolitan area is a hotbed for every drug you want,” said Michael Gimbel, director of the Sheppard Pratt Office of Substance Abuse Education & Prevention.
Anne Arundel County police charged three Severna Park teens and two Millersville teens with various drug violations involving marijuana and mushrooms Friday. Two of the teenscharged with intent to distribute were Severna Park High School students, according to police. Police said there is no evidence that the teens tried to sell the drugs in school.
After a search of 6 Windward Drive, police seized two sawed-off shotguns, a semi-automatic handgun, drug paraphernalia, 118 grams of marijuana with a street value of $1,025, two sandwich bags containing psilocybin mushrooms and $881 from the house.
Parents need to know about the increasing availability of all types of drugs, Gimbel said. “The standard alcohol and pot isn?t enough anymore to talk [about],” Gimbel said, “I am sure many parents have heard of mushrooms, but probably have no idea what they are.”
Gimbel said “exotic drugs” like mushrooms and prescription drugs are becoming increasingly popular in Maryland simply because they are available.
Jim McGivney, Maryland?s regional D.A.R.E. director, agrees that the availability of drugs is what nets teen users. “It?s my experience there is a market for about anything. A lot of times, availability will drive demand ? if it?s there, people are more likely to use it,” he said.
McGivney also said teenagers who are already using drugs are more likely to experiment with new substances. Both McGiveny and Gimble said mushrooms are dangerous because farmers frequently spray them with pesticides.
“There are no U.S.D.A.-approved mushrooms,” Gimble said. “You don?t know what you are buying.”
