FARMINGTON — A presentation titled “The Growing Bath Salts Epidemic” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in the Bass Room at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Anyone with an interest in learning more about this drug problem in Maine is invited to attend.

Bath salts are powerful stimulants commonly available on the Internet and in specialty smoke shops. In July, Maine enacted legislation to make it illegal to possess or sell any of the 21 different hallucinogenic drugs or stimulants that are sold and marketed as bath salts.

Speakers and their topics of discussion will include:

* David Hyde, DO, medical director of Franklin Memorial Hospital, will give an introduction to describe the bath salts problem for the community, including hospitals, law enforcement and schools.

* Karen Simone, PharmD, director of Northern New England Poison Control, will explain what bath salts are, how they affect users, and protocols for dealing with patients.

* Kelly Klein, MD, emergency room physician at Eastern Maine Medical Center, will discuss her experiences with bath salts users at EMMC, EMMC’s protocol in the emergency room, effects of bath salts on a patient, and affects of the epidemic on the hospital staff and community.

* Shane Cote, deputy chief of the Farmington Police Department, will discuss the bath salts experience in Western Maine, criminality concerning bath salts, and what to look for to identify users.

There is no fee to attend, however an RSVP is requested by calling 779-2381.

This information session is made possible by Evergreen Behavioral Services, an affiliate of Franklin Community Health Network. EBS offers 24/7 emergency mental health response and community outreach services in Greater Franklin County.