I am sure that you have heard of the guy in Florida that was shot by cops for chewing on the face and eyes of a homeless man. Two other men in Miami, Florida, have been arrested, one for growling at police and then trying to bite the hand of an officer. The other man was arrested for indecent exposure and sexually threatening a three-year-old girl near the North Miami Police Station. Just last Friday, in Missouri, a woman bit her neighbor on his arm where he wore a nicotine patch. Just yesterday, a man in Texas was standing in the middle of the road, shouting incoherently, his breathing was unstable, so the police called the paramedics. By the time the man was transported to the hospital, he was dead.
What’s the connection between all these cases? A new designer drug called “BATH SALTS!” (Not the same as what your Momma might have used in her bath at the end of a day to relax.) This drug is known to cause agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, chest pain, and suicidal tendencies. Known on the streets under names like “Ivory Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “Bliss,” and “Purple Wave,” has prompted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prompt a ban on the sale of the chemicals used to make the drug. The three chemicals that are banned by the DEA since October of 2011 are; mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone, all are synthetic stimulants. The DEA has until October of 2012 to decide to extend this ban on the possession or sale of those chemicals.
“Bath salts” have only been around for such a short time that there are NO studies available to determine what the long term effects on the users are. Users snort, shoot, or mix with food or drink in order to obtain the high that they are looking for. As of this blog creation, there is no test to pick up bath salts in the system of a user and all that emergency room workers have to go on is if the patient tells them they took this drug.
Because the packaging on “bath salts” is labeled with the phrase “not fit for human consumption,” has for the moment, in a way saved this drug from being placed on the list of drugs and narcotics that are illegal in the United States. Several states, counties, cities and municipalities have taken steps to ban the sale of “bath salts” At this current time it is not illegal to purchase this at drug paraphernalia stores and on line.
Reading the countless news stories here lately has really made me realize just how dangerous this drug is. I urge parents, teachers, adults of all positions to PLEASE not only monitor your teenagers, but TALK to them about the dangers of this new designer drug. Do the research yourself, find out what this drug and other new designer drugs are. Be AWARE of the physical hints that something isn’t right with your kids, grand-kids, or their friends. Be vigilant in your efforts to keep yourself and your family safe. The life you save by doing this could be MINE!
great post