There have been repeated warnings in recent days from police and state officials that the new synthetic drug marketed as "bath salts" is not, in fact, bath salts; it's a particular, and dangerous, chemical that has been marketed online and in drug paraphernalia stores as bath salts or plant food. "This is not something you can buy at Bed Bath and Beyond," Debbie Field, director of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy, told the Associated Press. "It causes hallucinogenic, suicidal thoughts." Field brought legislation today to outlaw the substance, and the House Judiciary Committee agreed to introduce it; click below for a full report from AP reporter Jessie Bonner.
 

Idaho latest state to consider 'bath salt' ban
By JESSIE L. BONNER, Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho will join a growing number of states considering laws to ban sale or possession of a new synthetic drug often marketed as "bath salts."

Debbie Field, director of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy, is expected to introduce a bill Monday in the Idaho Legislature that would ban the drugs now sold legally online and in drug paraphernalia stores under brand names like "Purple Wave" and "Ivory Wave."

"This is not something you can buy at Bed Bath and Beyond," Field said. "It causes hallucinogenic, suicidal thoughts."

The so-called bath salts usually are snorted like cocaine but also can be smoked and injected. The bill seeking to ban the substances arrives less than a week after state lawmakers took up legislation to outlaw chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana called "Spice."

"Once "Spice" got banned, these bath salts took its place," Field said.

White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske issued a warning last week about the powdered drug, which can produce a high similar to cocaine, LSD or ecstasy. Synthetic stimulants in the powders have sickened hundreds already this year, Kerlikowske warned.

A Mississippi sheriff's office has said the drugs are suspected in an apparent overdose death there.

The "bath salts" drugs also are sometimes labeled as plant food, contain the synthetic stimulants MDPV, or 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and mephedrone. Those chemicals are neither controlled by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration nor approved for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration.

Hawaii, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Dakota already are considering legislation to ban the products.

In Florida, officials at the state's Poison Information Center reported last week that a statewide ban on a synthetic designer drug has led to a drop in calls about the substance.

In Idaho, police and the drug policy office met to discuss the ramifications of the drug in the wake of recent hospitalizations.

"We have kids in intensive care units and emergency units," Field said. "We're starting to see this a lot."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.