Father Whose Son Took His Life After Using K2 to Speak in West Des Moines Monday

Mike Rozga, the father of an Indianola youth whose 2010 suicide after using the drug K2 prompted changes in state and federal laws regarding synthetic drugs, will be among the speakers Monday at a “Parents: You Matter” event at

The event, from 7 to 8 p.m., is sponsored by , West Des Moines Substance Abuse Prevention Community Coalition and the Polk County Substance Abuse and Addictions Workgroup. It’s free and open to the public.

Parents, what's your best strategy to respond to underage drinking and illegal drug use? Tell us in comments.

Other speakers include detectives Bryan Grube and Jeff Lyon, who also serve as school resource officers in the West Des Moines school district.

Attendees will learn about current alcohol and drug use trends and gain information and resources to support the young people in their lives.

State, Federal Laws Changed

Rozga used the tragedy to spread awareness about the effects of K2 and other synthetic drugs. As a result, synthetic designer drugs known as “synthetic cannabinoids” and so-called “bath salts” are now classified as Schedule I controlled substances, which include drugs like heroin and cocaine. The law also applies to the organic drug salvia divinorum.

A year ago, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration exercised its emergency scheduling authority to criminally prohibit the possession and sale of chemical agents contained in synthetic marijuana.

Underage Drinking, Substance Abuse a Problem in All Iowa Schools

Substance abuse isn’t an issue unique to West Des Moines schools, said Shahna Janssen, the district’s community education director.

“It impacts students in a negative way and we’re looking to raise awareness and help parents feel more informed and create a better situation for their kids,” Janssen said.

The West Des Moines Substance Abuse Prevention Community Coalition has existed since 1986 and previously received federal money for programs. Janssen co-chairs that group.

“We used to have safe- and drug-free schools funding, but over the years, that money has gone away,” she said. “So we had to get more creative and do what we can without funds. We can share information without funding.”

Among the coalition’s accomplishments is its work with the West Des Moines City Council in 2008 on the social host ordinance, which subjects adults providing alcohol to minors to a civil fine.

Janssen said school officials seize every opportunity they can to talk about underage drinking and illegal drug and tobacco use, but the message is more timely as the end of the school year approaches.

“There’s never a bad time to talk about this issue but it tends to get a little more publicity because of the number of celebratory things going on toward the end of the school year,” she said.