Many synthetic drugs still legal after "bath salts" ban

Containers of bath salts, synthetic stimulants that mimic the effects of traditional drugs like cocaine and speed, sit on a counter at Hemp's Above in Mechanicsburg, Pa in January 2011. / Chris Knight,AP Photo/The Patriot-News

(AP) WASHINGTON - People are inventing so many new, legal ways to get high that lawmakers can't seem to keep up.

Over the past two years, the U.S. has seen a surge in the use of synthetic drugs made of legal chemicals that mimic the dangerous effects of cocaine, amphetamines and other illegal stimulants.

The drugs are often sold at small, independent stores in misleading packaging that suggests common household items like bath salts, incense and plant food. But the substances inside are powerful, mind-altering drugs that have been linked to bizarre and violent behavior across the country. Law enforcement officials refer to the drugs collectively as "bath salts," though they have nothing in common with the fragrant toiletries used to moisturize skin.

DEA to outlaw "bath salt drugs"
"Bath salts" have effects similar to meth, ecstasy

Products considered synthetic drugs.

/ CBS

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law earlier this month that bans the sale, production and possession of more than two dozen of the most common bath salt drugs. But health professionals say that there are so many different varieties of the drugs that U.S. lawmakers are merely playing catch up.

"The moment you start to regulate one of them, they'll come out with a variant that sometimes is even more potent," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

There are no back alleys or crack houses in America's latest drug epidemic. The problem involves potent substances that amateur chemists make, package and sell in stores under brands like "Ivory Wave," "Vanilla Sky" and "Bliss" for as little as $15. Emergencies related to the drugs have surged: The American Association of Poison Control Centers received more than 6,100 calls about bath salt drugs in 2011 — up from just 304 the year before — and more than 1,700 calls in the first half of 2012.

The problem for lawmakers is that it's difficult to crack down on the drugs. U.S. laws prohibit the sale or possession of all substances that mimic illegal drugs, but only if federal prosecutors can show that they are intended for human use. People who make bath salts and similar drugs work around this by printing "not for human consumption" on virtually every packet.

Barbara Carreno, a spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Agency, said the intended use for bath salts is clear.

"Everyone knows these are drugs to get high, including the sellers," she said.

Many states have banned some of the most common bath salts, which are typically sold by small businesses like convenience stores, tobacco shops and adult book stores. For instance, West Virginia legislators banned the bath salt drug MDPV last year, making it a misdemeanor to sell, buy or possess the synthetic drug. Conviction means up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Stephanie Mitchell, assistant manager of The Den, a tobacco and paraphernalia shop in Morgantown, W.Va., said the store hasn't sold bath salts in the six months that she's worked there. But strung-out users still come in and ask for them.

"They're pretty ... cracked out, I guess would be a good word," said Mitchell, 21, a student at West Virginia University. "They're just kind of not all there. They're kind of sketchy people."

Calif. man, high on 'bath salts,' allegedly struck woman with shovel, police say
Rudy Eugene, Fla. "face-chewer," had no bath salts, just marijuana in his system

Mitchell says she wouldn't sell bath salts even if she had them, "because it's horrible, and I could get in trouble for it."

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[aloevista]

This is Insane in my opinion.If someone wants to get high that's their business. People should have the rights to their own bodies without being harassed and incarcerated for it. According to the Supreme court decision on the abortion issue - Roe Vs Wade- you do have this right. But in my personal opinion that is not your body , but another human being being formed inside.
Everyone knows herion is addictive and they also know the issues with other drugs should they choose to ingest them. Most deaths occur due to people taking eccessive amounts and adulteraed street drugs. It should their choice. Decriminilize all drugs, it will stop 90% of the crime and empty out the jails and prisons and put the gangs and dope pushers put of business. There were no laws against these drugs back in the 20's, and you coud walk into any pharmacy and obtain morphine, cocaine etc, and you could also walk safetly down the street and sleep with your doors opened.

[fromashesreborn]

Also, the chems that aren't banned are hella good.
Luckily, no one knows **** about them and I HOPE IT STAYS THIS WAY.
Please remember, it's not the drugs, the guns, etc.
It's the ******* human beings using them, BLAME THE PEOPLE NOT THE DRUGS.
K THX.

[fromashesreborn]

Please people. Shut the **** up,
your all old ***** who know absolutely NOTHING,
about research chemicals, such as mdpv, drone etc.
These are the drugs of the new age, they are BETTER than
all the classic drugs ie heroin, cocaine, meth etc.
They are and WILL BE on this planet forever, SORRY.
Go **** yourselves, and have a lovely Christmas day!
CIAO!

[steve001968]

Well, I see the media is finally figuring it out. When you crack down on drugs that are made by professionals who know what they are going you get amateurs who have no clue what they are doing and drugs become more dangerous. The idiot and chief banning bath salts may be his most idiotic move to date.

[guest173]

I had my kids read detailed books of alcohol and drug abuse. Education was very helpful in that way. Then I had to ban my daughter from some teens I knew were left unsupervised too often, and sadly in college one of those troubled teens was found dead of a drug overdose in her dorm. I think idle minds are the devils playground, go to the library and help educate your teens why these things are so unhealthy, then try to be healthy together, exercise, play games, spend family time together. Too many drug dealers are actually middle and high school students getting drugs from their relatives out on parole, you have to spend time with your kids friends, any of them that always avoid adults you need to guide your kids away from.

[guest173]

and actually I didn't totally ban my daughter's friends, I told them they were welcome at our house anytime, and we always had adults in the home, They declined the offer, I suspected they would. We just stopped my daughter from going to their houses.

[cleanMountainAir]

I'm in Tennessee, not so very far from Cookeville. I've read so many stories in the local papers over the past couple of years about people acting bats--- crazy while strung out on this stuff that it's mostly lost the shock value. Now it's just sad. And scary. Sometimes with an edge of dark humor, there was one where the law was out all night trying to talk a guy into coming down out of a tree... They ban one and something new is out before the ink is dry on the legislation. It's right next to the cash register in most convenience stores. Keeping company with the chocolate bars and other impulse items. Easier to buy than beer. And yet for the past two days black helicopters (seriously) have been combing the mountains and burning my tax dollars on a search and destroy mission for relatively harmless marijuana. We have some messed up priorities in this country.

[ultraskygod]

the comments that come when there is a story on marijuana overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization. this suggests that continuing the ban on marijuana is not the priority of the people as much as it is of one of the elected officials who are hesitant to admit that the policies they have supported for so long are bad for the country, and the law enforcement/prison bureaucracy who (like pigs wallowing around in the mud) will wallow in anything that gives them funding, including seizures.

[kroguej]

Dr Drew was saying that people are taking these synthetic drugs so they can pass work drug screening tests. He said normally their drug of choice is marijuana, so basically our policies are pushing people to more dangerous drugs. Sound like a good idea?

[rwsmith29456]

I don't do illegal drugs, period, but I believe that marijuana should be legalized. It's so innocuous compared to hard drugs and these new synthetics.

[guest173]

being stoned makes you stupid though. A while back, a young mother was so stoned she left her baby on top of her car and drove off. By the time she found it, the police had gotten the baby from the middle of an intersection and arrested her when she showed up. Willie Nelson admits he can't remember much of anything. We don't need even more stupider people than there already is around here. Eat plants (fruits and vegetables) don't smoke them, to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancers.