Task force tackles synthetic drug problem on The Murfreesboro Post

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Task force tackles synthetic drug problem

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By: JONATHAN FAGAN, editor@murfreesboropost.com

Posted: Sunday, January 8, 2012 9:31 am

Task force tackles synthetic drug problem | Drugs,Crime,Mike Sparks,Robert Arnold,Murfreesboro,RuCo

State Rep. Mike Sparks discusses issues of legal drug addiction Jan. 6 with Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold, law enforcement officials and community members at the Correctional Work Center. (Photo by J. Fagan)

Members of TN-0, a task force that includes law enforcement officials and community members, met Friday at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center to discuss issues surrounding synthetic drugs and their impact on Tennessee’s communities.

The task force was created by former detective Kathy Hines and state Rep. Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) to educate the public on the growing problem of synthetic drugs,

prescription drugs and human trafficking in Rutherford County, as well as across the state.

Speakers included Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold, former addict Dylan Evans and his mother, Brooke Wyant, Eagleville School Resource Officer Rick Williams, and Mike Stanfill, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Discussion focused on the fact that the lethal addictive drugs, which take many forms, remain legal, and attendees applauded attempts by Sparks and law enforcement to criminalize their sale.

Sparks is sponsoring legislation in this year’s upcoming session of the General Assembly, which reconvenes Tuesday, to make the sale of such drugs a felony, and federal officials have made the synthetic compounds the subject of an emergency investigation.

See Thursday’s edition of The Murfreesboro Post for more details on this emerging story, including testimony by a former addict and interviews with top law enforcement officials dealing with the growing problem.

Tagged under Crime, Drugs, Mike Sparks, Murfreesboro, Robert Arnold, RuCo

Member Opinions:

By: postlooker22 on 1/9/12
I guess I am naive, but human traffickking in my own county makes me sad.