|
Franklin County area police say the use of 'bath salts' increasing
Feb 04, 2012 (Public Opinion - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Despite a state law prohibiting the synthetic drugs known as "bath salts," area law enforcement and medical personnel said there is still a local concern.
"It's definitely been (on) an upswing," said David Arnold, Chambersburg Police Chief. "We're aware of it."
Sale and possession of bath salts and certain other synthetic drugs, including synthetic marijuana, were made illegal in August. The chemicals have an active ingredient in them similar to that found in ecstasy and another similar to methamphetamine.
Those who take the drug recreationally can experience extreme paranoia, hallucinations and rapid heart rate, among other adverse effects, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Shippensburg Police Chief Fred Scott said producers and users of the salts are using a little ingenuity to bypass the law.
"One day it's made up of this, then they change one ingredient, and now it's legal," he said. "I had a drug addict who was smoking potpourri. Is that legal? What do I do (then)?"
While local law enforcement agencies say the use of the drug is still prevalent, Karlee Brown, a Summit Health spokesperson, said the hospital has seen fewer patients coming in as a result of bath salt use.
"We were seeing about one patient each week in the Chambersburg Emergency Department due to bath salt use," she said in an e-mail. "Since the ban in August, we've seen a dramatic decrease."
Children as young as middle school age are becoming involved in the
use of synthetic drugs, Scott said.
"Kids have been buying it and using it," he said.
Kris Carroll, Shippensburg Area School District superintendent, said that she isn't aware of any incidents involving "bath salts" in the district.
"We do have a very sound, comprehensive health curriculum, where things like abuse of drugs are covered," she said. "I haven't heard of any concerns in our high school."
"There have been a few students suspended for bath salts (this year)," said Cathy Dusman, Chambersburg Area School District assistant superintendent. "We do work very closely with the local police department and the state police."
Dusman said students caught using the drug are suspended and brought in front of the district's administrative review committee, which includes psychologists and teachers who determine the action to take to help the student.
"We're certainly always cautious of the next thing," Dusman said.
Arnold said Internet sites are one of the ways users can get the synthetic drug.
"Now we're hearing there are still places they can buy it on the Internet and that they are going to bigger cities, like Baltimore, and buying it off the streets."
----
Morgan Young can be reached at myoung@shipnewsnow.com and 262-4753, or follow her on Twitter @ShipNewsGirl.
Bath salts primer
"Bath salts" are synthetic stimulants marketed as such and can be found in a number of retail products. The drug, according to a fact sheet created by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, can cause effects similar to amphetamines, cocaine and LSD.
Street names for bath salts include Bliss, Blue Silk, Cloud Nine, Drone, Energy-1, Ivory Wave, Lunar Wave, Meow Meow, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Red Dove, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Knight and White Lightning.
The salts are sold as a powder, using various brand names, in small plastic or foil packages.
The salts are usually taken by snorting them up the nose. They can also be taken orally, smoked or injected into veins by adding a solution to them.
Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
___ (c)2012 the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) Visit the Public Opinion
(Chambersburg, Pa.) at www.publicopiniononline.com Distributed by MCT
Information Services
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
