Community efforts to combat synthetic drugs in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – South Bend is stepping up efforts to combat community drug use.

City leaders have introduced a new “not in our community” initiative.

LaSalle Park Neighborhod Alliance hosted an event Monday at Layman Chapel Church, after three people were found overdosing from synthetic marijuana.

Council President, Tim Scott says “What we want to do is put it down, quit selling it, quite distributing it, put it away, turn it over.” He adds, “I’m sure the police department would be happy to take it off your hands, but we had over 1200 overdoses in our community and that’s the reason for this thing. Not in our commununity, we don’t want this to happen anymore.”

Officials state they will continue to crack down on the distribution and use of synthetic marijuana.