#WEUNITUS

#DipendidaTE: cicle of educational seminars against drug abuse and illegal trafficking

During January and February, the #Dipendidate seminar series, organized by the Laboratory of Drug Analysis (LAS) of the Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences at the University of Tuscia, took place. Coordinated by Prof. Anna Maria Timperio, Dr. Veronica Lelli, and Dr. Roberta Meschini, the seminars provided students with information about drugs, their harmful effects, and emerging methods of distribution, raising awareness about the importance of prevention. The Carabinieri made A key contribution, whose involvement enriched the discussions. The initiative aimed to strengthen young people’s awareness and promote responsible choices regarding the law and health.

The seminars involved around 800 students from six schools in the provinces of Viterbo, Rome, and Latina: the “A. Meucci” Scientific High School in Ronciglione, the “L. Da Vinci” ITIS and “P. Ruffini” Scientific High School in Viterbo; the “L. Calamatta” IIS and “G. Marconi” IIS in Civitavecchia; and the “D. Alighieri” Classical High School in Latina. They focused on two main thematic areas.

The technical-scientific aspect, presented by Dr. Veronica Lelli, offered an overview of drugs, the effects of their use on the human body, new drugs, and emerging consumption patterns. Additionally, it illustrated analysis techniques and the equipment used for examining seized substances, delving into the “Protocol for Chemical-Toxicological Assessments,” along with an overview of the legislation governing these procedures and explanations of chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques.

The legal aspect concentrated on regulations related to drug use and anti-drug laws, with particular attention to the negative consequences and penalties for those who use or deal drugs, and the dissemination of drugs, especially synthetic substances and new psychoactive substances. These presentations were delivered by representatives of the Carabinieri: Lieutenant Armando Accettulli and Marshal Sabrina Soriano from the Ronciglione Carabinieri Company, Major Angelo Accardo, Commander of the Civitavecchia Carabinieri Company, Major Felice Bucalo, Commander of the Viterbo Carabinieri Company, and Lieutenant Massimo Ienco from the Latina Carabinieri Company.

Since 2018, a framework agreement between the University of Tuscia and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Viterbo has been in effect for conducting toxicological assessments on seized substances.