Salmon Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

In the November 2024 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law , Dr. Stephanie M. Schonholz and colleagues delve into the complex legal and ethical challenges surrounding the medical use of psilocybin. While preliminary studies suggest potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin for conditions like major depressive disorder and PTSD, its classification as a Schedule I substance under federal law poses significant hurdles for research and clinical application. The article highlights the discord between state-level decriminalization efforts and federal regulations, creating a precarious legal landscape for practitioners and patients. This inconsistency raises critical questions about the standard of care, patients' rights to effective treatment, and the potential liabilities healthcare providers may face when considering psilocybin as a therapeutic option. Ethically, the authors emphasize the necessity of unbiased research and the importance of informed ...

Across the country, there is a growing push to legalize psilocybin therapy , with New York taking steps toward its approval in 2025 . Supporters claim that psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” could be a breakthrough treatment for mental health disorders like depression and PTSD.  But at SSAPCO, we believe this move is dangerous, especially for our youth. While psilocybin’s medical potential is still being researched, rushing toward legalization without strict safeguards could open the door for abuse, youth exposure, and increased substance misuse in our communities. If states like New York push forward, how long before these efforts reach Idaho? Now is the time to act. Legalizing psilocybin, even for medical use, sends a dangerous message to our youth. When substances become legal, young people perceive them as safe, leading to increased experimentation and long-term consequences. We’ve already seen this with high-potency marijuana , where legalization has cont...

Did you know that fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine? Even a tiny dose—just two milligrams, roughly the size of a few grains of salt —can be fatal (DEA, 2023). What’s Happening? In recent years, fentanyl has been increasingly found in counterfeit prescription pills and other street drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. Many people who overdose have no idea they are even taking fentanyl . According to the DEA, six out of ten fake pills tested contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. In 2022 alone, over 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, and fentanyl was involved in nearly 70% of these cases (CDC, 2023). SSAPCO Takes Action SSAPCO, along with Drug-Free Youth and CYA Idaho, recently took this urgent message to Capitol Hill, advocating for stronger prevention efforts and policy changes. We met with Senator Mike Crapo and other national leaders to push for more education and community awareness. How Can You Help? ✔ Talk to yo...