WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather and Sports |Former synthetic drug addict speaks to H.S. students

Former synthetic drug addict speaks to H.S. students

On Tuesday, a former synthetic drug addict spoke to students at a Rutherford County high school warning of the dangers associated with the now illegal substances.

Dylan Evans shared his story to around 100 students at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro of how synthetic drugs such as bath salts took over his life.

"I'm not here to preach to you. I'm just here to tell you what happened to me," he said.

The 19-year-old just completed rehab a little more than a week ago, for his addiction to synthetic drugs which allows abusers to experience effects similar to those induced by marijuana.

The products, were outlawed in Tennessee in July.  

"I told myself it's okay, because it's legal," Evans said.

Evans explained how his nine-month long addiction consumed his life and robbed him of a full scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University, $5,000 worth of savings and relationships.

"I lied to myself. I told myself I could control it," Evans said, adding, "This stuff is dangerous. It took just about everything I had from me."  

Evans underwent treatment at Cumberland Heights in Nashville to battle his addiction.

"It's a day to day thing. Today I don't have to use drugs because I talked to these kids and that makes me feel better and each day I get that opportunity is [going to] be good," he said.

Detective Greg Flanagan with the Murfreesboro Police Department said he hopes Evans' story will help prevent others from experimenting with the now illegal substance.  

"If we can save a life, then we've done our job in getting the word out," he said.

The former addict said he plans to continue talking to others about the effects of synthetic drugs.

"These things are serious, so I hope my story gives maybe one person the courage to say no."

Under state law, those who use or sell synthetic drugs can be charged with a misdemeanor.

The maximum punishment is less than a year time in jail.

On Monday, two Clarksville teens were involved in a crash after they told police they had purchased synthetic drugs from a store in Kentucky.

Recently authorities in Rutherford County raided 36 stores throughout the county that was selling the products.

Earlier this month, Mt. Juliet police confiscated synthetic drugs from a market.