Secondhand exposure to methamphetamine is the topic of the Simply Science and Kearney Science Café presentations on April 18 and 19 in Gothenburg, McCook and Kearney.
Sandra Wells, Ph.D., will discuss "Facts and Fiction about Secondhand Meth” as part of “UNMC Simply Science,” an outreach program from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The hour-long presentations will be held in:
Gothenburg — Monday, April 18 at noon at the Gothenburg Rotary meeting;
McCook — Monday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m., McCook community event, McCook Hospital, 1301 East H Street, Meadowlark Conference Room;
McCook — Tuesday, April 19, at noon, McCook Rotary meeting; and
Kearney — Tuesday, April 19, at 5 p.m. – Kearney Science Café, Thunderhead Brewing,
18 East 21st Street
Dr. Wells is an assistant professor in the department of environmental, agricultural and occupational health in the UNMC College of Public Health.
Dr. Wells will review the history of methamphetamine use and discuss why secondhand exposure to this drug is an increasing health problem in the United States. Her research focuses on what is known and not known about the health effects of secondhand exposure to methamphetamine and how it affects the respiratory system.
“According to a report from 2006, it is estimated that nearly 6 percent of the U.S. population ages 12 and older used methamphetamine at least once,” Dr. Wells said. “Both manufacturing and smoking methamphetamine creates the risks of secondhand smoke and residual drug exposures.”
Although there are numerous reports on the overall dangers of methamphetamine use and production, the actual health consequences of secondhand exposure are largely unreported, she said.
As part of UNMC Simply Science, faculty members travel to different regions of the state, delivering presentations on various topics of health care. The visits take place two times per year to different parts of the state. For more on Simply Science, visit www.unmc.edu/simplyscience.
Travel expenses for Simply Science are sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.