LOWNDES COUNTY — Local law enforcement is urging area residents, especially parents, to educate themselves on a growing craze throughout the nation called “pharming.”
While no cases of “pharming” have been reported to Lowndes County authorities, word of “pharm” parties taking place in the community has begun to spread.
“‘Pharming’ is a new fad that we are beginning to see, and we need to educate parents to avoid problems in the future,” Lowndes County Sheriff Capt. J.D. Yeager stated in a letter to The Valdosta Daily Times. “There are enormous risks involved. ‘Pharming’ usually occurs when teenagers and young adults take drugs out of their medicine cabinets in the home and take them to parties. Everyone combines the drugs that they have brought into a bowl. Anyone can take as many different pills as they are willing to. Most of these parties also involve alcohol. Mixing different medications can be deadly and adding alcohol only increases the consequences.”
In response to circulating rumors about local students overdosing and dying from “pharming” in Lowndes County, Yeager said, “We have had no teen deaths in reference to this and have not had any problems within our county school system. We had one incident that involved a student who had taken too much cold medicine and had to be taken to the hospital, but nothing that suggested ‘pharming’ has been reported.”
Yeager added that the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is kept up-to-date on all incidents that occur in the school system.
According to articles in Time magazine and USA Today, prescription painkillers and stimulants are commonly used at “pharm” parties.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the most dangerous prescription pain relievers are those containing drugs known as opioids, such as morphine and codeine. Drugs that contain these substances include Darvon, Demerol, Dilaudid, OxyContin, Tylenol with Codeine and Vicodin. Popular prescription stimulants include Ritalin and Aderall, which are commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
In a 2005 survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 19 percent teenagers in the nation, which is the equivalent of approximately 4.5 million teens, reported that they had taken prescription painkillers or stimulants to get high.
The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that prescription and over-the-counter drug overdoses accounted for approximately 25 percent of the 1.3 million drug-related emergency room admissions in 2004.
The FDA warns that the risks of abusing or mixing prescription or over-the-counter drugs may result in poor concentration; disorientation; apathy; feelings of confusion, addiction, anxiety, hostility and aggression; respiratory depression; dizziness; slurred speech; excessive sweating; nausea and vomiting; tremors; convulsions; lack of energy; and coma. Because stimulants increase blood pressure and pulse rate, people who overdose may also experience an increased risk of stroke, heart attack or sudden death.
Local News
‘Pharming’ sweeps the nation
Parents urged to talk to teens about dangers
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
