Senator Charles Schumer has introduced legislation that would ban "bath salts" immediately. (ABC News)
By LEE FERRAN 9-7-2011
The Drug Enforcement Administration said today it will use its emergency authority to ban chemicals used in legal synthetic drugs known as "bath salts", calling the chemicals an "imminent hazard" to the public.
"This imminent action by the DEA demonstrates that there is no tolerance for those who manufacture, distribute, or sell these drugs anywhere in the country, and that those who do will be shut down, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement on the DEA website. "DEA has made it clear we will not hesitate to use our emergency scheduling authority to control these dangerous chemicals that pose a significant and growing threat to our nation."
In June, an ABC News "20/20" investigation found that despite being linked to multiple deaths, "bath salts" have been sold across the country with little to no oversight, sometimes to teens.
The DEA describes the so-called "bath salts", which have nothing in common with products long-used in bathing, as a sort of imitation cocaine or LSD – a substance that while legal, has not been approved by the FDA for human consumption and has been linked to violent, sometimes deadly outbursts by users. Varieties of "bath salts" are sold under different labels in corner stores across the U.S. as well as online and have prompted thousands of calls to Poison Control nationwide.
"They're selling time bombs," Louisiana Poison Control Center Director Dr. Mark Ryan said in the course of the ABC News investigation. "We've had some people show up who are complaining of chest pains so severe that they think they're having a heart attack. They think they're dying... They have extreme paranoia. They're having hallucinations. They see things, they hear things, monsters, demons, aliens."
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), proposed a national ban on the chemicals used in bath salts in February. Thirty-three states already have measures to control the substance.
"I am pleased the DEA has finally heeded our call to ban these drugs by making them illegal controlled substances. While this is a solid first step, we need to ensure that these drugs stay off the market for good," Schumer said. "I will push to permanently ban these drugs until the threat of this scourge is removed from our neighborhoods, our schools, and from store counters across the country."
The DEA emergency ban will take effect in 30 days and will make it illegal to possess or sell mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and methylone -- all key ingredients for "bath salts" -- or any products which contain the chemicals for one year while the DEA works with the Department of Health and Human Services to "further study whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled."
MTW- This is an ABC story announcing a DEA ban on this substance on 9-7-2011. Almost a year later folks are worried they will get their faces eaten off? Sounds as if a few of you should take this up with our leaders, the ones you have elected, not me. These alternative drugs have evolved from bath salts to music downloads. People want drugs. The War on Drugs is a waste of money. Legalize some pot, or pot and some other things and tax them. I have detoxed myself off of Morphine, in weeks, for medical reasons; I have been trying to quit smoking since 1989. Can not do it. What is in them? Cigarettes are legal; yet the companies have millions going to lobbyists to buy Washington D.C. So do the alcohol manufacturers. What does your common sense tell you? Try and empty an ocean of dope with a teaspoon. That is the War on Drugs. The DEA has now become another impotent intragovernmental agency in this cancerous Administration. How does an item which has not been FDA approved become released to the public? The FDA is useless as well. These bath salts are still available, since 9/11/11, neither the DEA, nor FDA have stopped that. Keep reading.
Bath salts: Key ingredient in street drug to be made illegal
By Douglas Quan, Postmedia News June 5, 2012
Containers of bath salts.
Photograph by: Chris Knight, The Associated Press Files , National Post
The federal government has announced plans to crack down on a street drug known as "bath salts," which have been linked to psychotic episodes and potentially violent behaviour.
The drug recently made headlines in Miami, Fla., when a man — believed to have been high on bath salts — chewed off the flesh of a homeless man's face before being shot dead by police.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Tuesday that MDPV, a key ingredient in bath salts, will be added to Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the same category as heroin and cocaine. It is expected to become officially illegal in the fall.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse issued a nationwide drug alert last week concerning bath salts.
The alert said the drug is generally sold on the Internet or in head shops.
While the drug may resemble salts sold in bath and beauty stores, it is prepared in illicit labs and contains amphetamine-type stimulants, the alert said.
"Individuals under the influence of these substances report hallucinations, paranoia, chest pain and blurry vision, and appear agitated and combative," the alert said.
While the drug's presence in Canada appears to be concentrated in the Maritime provinces, media reports in recent days have suggested that the drug's reach has spread to other provinces as well.
The drug is known by a variety of street names, including ivory wave, vanilla sky, pure ivory, cloud nine, whack, Bolivian bath and purple wave
Read more: http://www.canada.com/health/Bath+salts+ingredient+street+drug+made+illegal/6732225/story.html#ixzz1wxPL8YT4
MTW-See what I mean? No CHANGE. Our Nation is BROKEN. Can we now fix it? It would seem that the 99% have 100% of the problem. Its name is Barry. Nobama-Nobiden in 2012!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
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