U.S. Bans Chemicals in "Bath Salts" Street Drug

U.S. Bans Chemicals in "Bath Salts" Street Drug
 
WASHINGTON | Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:22pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities on Friday issued a temporary ban on chemicals used in a new type of street drug known as "bath salts" that is increasingly popular among teens.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took emergency action that makes possessing and selling these chemicals or products that contain them illegal in the United States.
"This emergency action was necessary to prevent an imminent threat to public safety," the DEA said in a statement.
Under the federal order, the chemicals used to make bath salts -- mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and methylone -- are banned for at least one year.
Studies will then determine if the chemicals should be permanently banned.
The action places the chemicals on the DEA's most restrictive list, reserved for substances with high potential for abuse and that do not have a currently accepted use for treatment.
Bath salts are marketed with catchy names like "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," "Vanilla Sky" and "Bliss" and are comprised of chemicals that mimic the effects of drugs like cocaine and LSD, authorities said.
Users have reported impaired perception, reduced motor control, disorientation, extreme paranoia and violent episodes, with other unknown longer-term physical and psychological effects.
Bath salts, also sometimes sold as "plant food," are growing in popularity among young adults and teens. They are sold at tobacco shops, gas stations, convenience stores and online, according to the DEA.
The products are typically marked "not for human consumption" but are commonly snorted, swallowed or injected by users. They have not been approved by the federal regulators for human consumption or medical use.
Poison control centers, hospitals and police have been fielding an increasing number of calls about products containing the chemicals in bath salts, the DEA said.

National Survey Shows a Rise in Illicit Drug Use From 2008 to 2010 The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2010, according to a national survey conducted by SAMHSA. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that 22.6 million Americans age 12 or older (8.9 percent of the population) were current illicit drug users. The rate of use in 2010 was similar to the rate in 2009 (8.7 percent), but remained above the 2008 rate (8.0 percent). Another disturbing trend is the continuing rise in the rate of current illicit drug use among young adults age 18 to 25—from 19.6 percent in 2008 to 21.2 percent in 2009 and 21.5 percent in 2010. This increase was also driven in large part by a rise in the rate of current marijuana use among this population. “We stand at a crossroads in our Nation’s efforts to prevent substance abuse and addiction,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “These statistics represent real lives that are at risk from the harmful and sometimes devastating effects of illicit drug use. This Nation cannot afford to risk losing more individuals, families, and communities to illicit drugs or from other types of substance abuse—instead, we must do everything we can to effectively promote prevention, treatment, and recovery programs across our country.” The annual NSDUH survey, released by SAMHSA at the kickoff of the 22nd annual National Recovery Month observance, is a scientifically conducted annual survey of approximately 67,500 people throughout the country, age 12 and older. Because of its statistical power, NSDUH is the Nation’s premier source of statistical information on the scope and nature of many behavioral health issues.

New Paltz Coalition Receives Federal Funding

The White House Office of National Drug Policy announced that the Community Partnership for a Safer New Paltz has been awarded $125,000 in Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program funding.  The DFC is a Federal grant program that provides funding to community-based coalitions that organize to prevent youth substance use. The philosophy behind the DFC program is that local drug problems require local solutions.  Recent evaluation data indicate that where DFC dollars are invested, youth substance use is lower.  Over the life of the DFC program, youth living in DFC communities have experienced reductions in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use.

A Great Time at the Ulster County Fair!

Thank you so much to everyone who visited our booth at the Ulster County Fair.  We had many visitors come and fill out our surveys and were entered in the drawing to wim the 22 inch Philips Flatscreen TV. 

Congratulations to our lucky winner, Bernadette Pikul from Highland.