Each and every day, here at SAY San Diego, our volunteers and interns give the abundant gifts of their talent and time to caring for their neighbors and lifting the lives of the children, youth, and families that we serve. Volunteers and interns form the heart of our community at SAY San Diego—and each year, they outnumber paid staff by about 150%. Among their many contributions to our clients and community, volunteers provide tutoring, tax assistance, counseling, lead youth development activities, organize and run events, conduct research, and much more.

SAY San Diego’s commitment to enriching the lives of children and youth, supporting their healthy development, and making life a bit easier for working families includes our major extended-learning programs before and after school. All facts point to the resulting afterschool advantage. Effective afterschool programs, like ours, boost academic performance, particularly in the key areas of reading and math. They also improve attendance, school engagement, personal aspirations, and positive health outcomes—including improved diet and exercise habits, healthy peer relationships, graduating high school, and attending post-secondary school—while reducing risk factors.[i]

It may seem that by middle school (6^th or 7^th grade) kids have outgrown afterschool programs, but the research is compelling as to why there’s a significant afterschool advantage for middle schoolers.

By Donna Wilson, Child & Youth Development Program Supervisor, with special thanks to teacher Susan Bulloch and retired teacher Donna Moyer for their contributions.

Studies show that children’s academic achievement is directly influenced by their parents’ involvement in their education. Learn how you can bolster your student for success.

A Teacher’s Expectation of Parents

Students, teachers, and parents all share responsibility in the education of a child. As a parent, here’s a minimum level of involvement most teachers expect:

Prevention is truly at the heart of SAY San Diego’s approach—and has always been. Notably, the science of prevention has advanced greatly over the years, in our area of social services, just as it has in public health and medicine. One area of emphasis has been reproductive health. Reproductive health is not only a critically important area of well-being for youth, it is one where evidence-based prevention efforts have led our county to join the nation in achieving historically low rates of teen pregnancy. Not long ago, San Diego had teen pregnancy rates that were 72–74 out of every 1000 births, now we are 22 out of every 1000 births—the lowest rate on record (CDC, 2016).

By Raul Roman, SAY San Diego Case Manager and Certified Trainer, World Class Relationships Curriculum

Love in a relationship cannot flourish without a strong foundation. Empathy, authenticity, and acceptance are all traits that support healthy relationships. Here are 5 tips to keep the love alive:

1. Communication: This is key in any relationship, especially when first engaging in a partnership. Talk about what’s important to you and how you’re feeling.

2. Goals: Set shared and agreed-upon goals. Focus on things you want to accomplish together and independently. For example, a shared goal would be to schedule more date nights, and an independent goal might be to learn a new skill.

3. Support: Be your partner’s biggest cheerleader. Back his/her dreams and personal goals. For instance, if your partner really wants to continue school, be encouraging.

4. Initiative: Do not rely on your partner or others to meet your needs. Assume responsibility for your own needs. No blaming or guilt trips. For example, if you’d like your partner to rub your shoulders, let him/her know.

5. Re-kindle: If you feel you have reached a plateau or rut, go back to what worked during your honeymoon phase. Continue to find ways to keep the flame burning. Maybe visit a favorite restaurant you used to love, or watch a favorite movie together.

In a KPBS article, Dr. Jonathan Lucas, the county’s chief deputy medical examiner, said his office sees meth-related deaths almost every day. He reported a dramatic increase in methamphetamine-related deaths—more than the flu and homicides combined. Here in San Diego the meth epidemic is especially acute. Knowing people who have suffered meth addiction and death is part of my personal and professional experience. I have friends and colleagues who have lost loved ones—including teenagers—to meth, or have lost children, spouses, and friends to the justice system because of the ravages of addiction. At SAY San Diego, we hold a vision of opportunity, equity, and well-being for all San Diegans, and we have a talented team that takes a public health approach to raising awareness, increasing prevention, and reducing misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, through community empowerment, collaboration, and structural changes that include better practices, systems, and policies.

In partnership with U.S. Attorney for Southern California Laura Duffy, the Playwrights Project, and many others we’ve taken one especially creative approach to increasing awareness of this issue in our community. Other People’s Kids is a play we’ve collectively commissioned, developed, and produced that retraces the tragic and complicated experiences of individuals, children, teens, parents, families, and entire communities when meth use and addiction become part of everyday life, and which offers hope and insight for healing. We are very grateful to all of our partners, including the County Probation Department, Second Chance, and the McAlister Institute, as well as many brave and generous individuals who shared their life stories to inform this production.

Don’t miss out! This moving and informative play will be performed at 7 p.m., March 16-18 at San Diego State University’s Experimental Theatre. Performances will also feature Finding Our Way, a play about recovery written by inmates at Donovan Correctional Facility.

…to Say Thank You, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Arigato, Xiexie, Danke, and Spasibo!

2016 Annual Report: Each year, in late fall, we take stock of SAY San Diego’s accomplishments as an agency and document them in an annual report of our progress. 2016 was a meaningful and exciting year at SAY San Diego. Our 45th! We are truly indebted to our terrific workforce, exceptional volunteers, and many talented and generous community partners and donors, all of whom fuel our work. Never doubt your critical importance. For a 36-year-old mother, SAY’s counseling staff recently helped her to change her life—making the difference between living in continual fear of domestic abuse; unable to keep her children safe, and finding a safe pathway forward, with her family intact, healthy and thriving. Please explore the multiple approaches and impacts SAY advances to save and improve lives in our 2016 Annual Report.

By William Perno, Retired San Diego County Deputy Sheriff and SAY San Diego Senior Prevention Specialist

Synthetic drugs, also called new psychoactive substances (NPS) or designer drugs, are lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of drugs like marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, or opioids. Because their formulas change constantly and their packaging doesn’t list ingredients, people who use them can’t know what they’re taking or how strong it is.

Retired San Diego County Deputy Sheriff and SAY San Diego Senior Prevention Specialist William Perno is a subject-matter expert on synthetic drugs. Mr. Perno has testified in support of synthetic drug legislation at the California State Assembly and provided trainings to community groups, school districts, students, teachers, parents, health care and prevention providers, drug-free community coalitions, policy makers, and law enforcement throughout California. Mr. Perno was recognized by then-City Attorney Jan Goldsmith as a key educator and an activist who assisted in the creation of San Diego’s synthetic drug ordinance.

Common Types of Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic drugs fall into a few main groups, each designed to imitate a different kind of drug:

• Synthetic cannabinoids (“K2,” “Spice”): chemicals sprayed on plant material to mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana
• Synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”): stimulants such as mephedrone, methylone, and MDPV, related to a substance found in the khat plant
• Synthetic hallucinogens: drugs such as the 2C family and “N-bomb” (NBOMe), sometimes sold as LSD
• Synthetic opioids: illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs such as carfentanil, which are often pressed into counterfeit pills
• Unregulated “gas station” products: substances such as tianeptine, which the FDA warns is not approved for any medical use and is linked to serious harm, overdoses, and death

10 Things to Know About Synthetic Drugs

1. There are hundreds of different chemical formulas for Synthetic Cannabinoids (“Spice,” “K2”) and Synthetic Stimulants (“Bath Salts”).
2. “Spice” is a toxic, man-made, chemical drug. There is nothing plant based about the drug. The drug is sprayed/laced onto plant material. The plant material is the fuel source to burn and vaporize the chemicals. Inhaling or ingesting the chemical fumes/chemicals causes the high.
3. Synthetic drugs are marked “Not for Human Consumption” to avoid Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and federal drug laws. There is no medicinal or legitimate use for these drugs. These dangerous drugs are deliberately and falsely mislabeled as household products when in reality they are intended as drugs of abuse.
4. The packaging used for synthetic drugs does not state what chemicals are contained inside the package. The end user has no idea what type of synthetic drug, potency/purity, or other contaminants/adulterants are contained inside. There is no information on who to contact if there is an adverse reaction.
5. Use of these drugs is Chemical Russian Roulette! Synthetic drugs affect people differently, and effects can range from a strong high to serious injury and death from one-time use. There were no clinical trials, no human studies, and the long-term effects of these drugs are unknown. People who use these drugs are “human guinea pigs.”
6. Synthetic drugs can be deadly in microgram doses (equivalent to 15–25 grains of salt).
7. Synthetic drugs can be sold in retail stores, street sales, and on the Internet.
8. There are specialized tests to detect synthetic drugs. These tests are more expensive than the drug tests that detect traditional controlled substances. Not all agencies/organizations test for synthetic drugs. As new chemical formulas are released, the tests need to be updated.
9. Poison Control Center data is under-reported for synthetic drug use. There is no mandatory reporting requirement for hospitals and first responders. There were more than 950 “Spice” poisonings within the City of San Diego from March 2015 through October 2016.
10. Synthetic drug chemical formulas are continually changing, as drug dealers/manufacturers change the chemical formula to stay ahead of legislative changes. Local city ordinances can be utilized to address gaps in state and/or federal legislation. The cities of San Diego and Oceanside have updated synthetic drug ordinances.

Why Synthetic Drugs Are Even More Dangerous Today

Since this article was first published, illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has become the most dangerous synthetic drug on the street. It’s often pressed into counterfeit pills made to look like prescription medications, or mixed into other drugs without the buyer’s knowledge.

• In 2024, 5 out of 10 fake prescription pills tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. As little as 2 milligrams can be deadly.
• Median monthly overdose deaths among U.S. adolescents ages 10–19 more than doubled (up 109%) from mid-2019 to late 2021, and about 84% involved illicit fentanyl, according to the CDC. About 1 in 4 of those deaths showed evidence of counterfeit pill use.
• In San Diego County, 945 people died from an overdose in 2024, a 21% decrease from 2023. Fentanyl and methamphetamine remained the leading causes, according to the County of San Diego.

Warning Signs of Synthetic Drug Use

The effects of synthetic drugs vary widely, but the DEA reports that synthetic cannabinoids can cause a racing heart, high blood pressure, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures. Synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”) can cause paranoia, psychosis, aggression, and a dangerously high body temperature. Parents may also notice changes like these in a teen:

• Sudden changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or friend groups
• Unusual anxiety, paranoia, confusion, or agitation
• Slipping grades or loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Unexplained packets labeled “not for human consumption,” “incense,” or “potpourri”
• Pills that don’t come from a pharmacy, or unexplained purchases online

One sign alone doesn’t mean a teen is using drugs, but a pattern is worth a calm, caring conversation.

What to Do in an Emergency

If someone has a seizure, loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or shows signs of an overdose, call 911 immediately. For questions about a possible poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential, 24/7). If opioids like fentanyl might be involved, give naloxone (Narcan) if it’s available. The County of San Diego offers free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips at locations across the county.

How to Talk to Your Teen About Synthetic Drugs

The most effective prevention starts at home. Talk early and often, stay calm, and listen more than you lecture. Explain that synthetic drugs aren’t “safe” or “legal” alternatives: their ingredients are unknown, one pill or one hit can be deadly, and pills from friends or social media may contain fentanyl. Late October’s Red Ribbon Week is a natural time to start the conversation, but any day works.

Where to Find Help in San Diego

• SAY San Diego’s prevention team: SAY’s Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention program works with schools, youth coalitions, and communities across San Diego to prevent youth substance use, including fentanyl and overdose prevention education.
• Safe medication disposal: SAY’s Stash Your Stash campaign helps families lock up and safely dispose of medications at home.
• Support at school: SAY’s school-based behavioral health services help students build coping skills and connect to care.
• Treatment and referrals: the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential treatment referrals 24/7, and the San Diego Access & Crisis Line (888-724-7240) connects residents to local behavioral health and substance use services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Synthetic Drugs

What are synthetic drugs?

Synthetic drugs, also called new psychoactive substances or designer drugs, are lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of drugs like marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, or opioids. Common examples include K2 and Spice (synthetic cannabinoids), bath salts (synthetic cathinones), and illicit fentanyl. Their formulas change often, so users can’t know what they’re taking or how strong it is.

Do synthetic drugs show up on a drug test?

Many synthetic drugs don’t show up on standard drug screens. Detecting them usually requires specialized tests that cost more and aren’t used by every agency or employer. Because manufacturers keep changing the chemical formulas, those tests must be updated regularly, and new synthetic substances can go undetected.

Are synthetic drugs illegal?

Yes, many are. The federal Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 placed many synthetic cannabinoids, plus mephedrone, MDPV, and several 2C hallucinogens, in Schedule I. The Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986 also treats many look-alike chemicals as Schedule I drugs. Manufacturers change formulas to get around these laws, which is why cities like San Diego and Oceanside have added local ordinances.

How are synthetic drugs different from natural drugs?

Natural drugs, like marijuana, come from plants, while synthetic drugs are made from chemical compounds in a lab. Synthetic versions are unregulated, their ingredients are unknown, and they can be far more potent than the drugs they imitate. That makes side effects, overdose, and long-term harm much harder to predict.

Contact William Perno through SAY San Diego’s Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention program for more information on free trainings for your community.