Synthetic drugs have become a problem on the Middle Peninsula in recent years and professionals who deal with substance abusers and addicts have sought to learn more about them and their effects. Charles F. Gressard, a professor in the counseling education department at the College of William and Mary, recently addressed the topic for a group of professionals in Mathews.

Gressard’s audience included representatives from the local offices of community services, social services, probation and parole, public schools and the commonwealth’s attorney. Some were counselors who deal directly with substance abusers and addicts, while others were those who deal with their impact on society.

Mathews Social Services brought Gressard to the county through a training grant provided by the Owens Foundation in support of the county’s multidisciplinary team. The team, consisting of representatives from numerous state and local agencies, convenes to facilitate services for victim...