Page 23 | ABUSE Magazine
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Milwaukee County
Federal authorities
crack down on
synthetic drugs.
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.
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.
In the first national crackdown on
the burgeoning synthetic drug industry, federal drug agents have
arrested 90 people and seized more
than 5 million packets of the drugs,
which may affect ongoing investigations in Wisconsin. The operation,
launched by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, targeted synthetic drugs often marked as bath
salts, incense, plant food or Spice,
also known as synthetic marijuana.
Nationwide, people are inventing so
many new ways to get high that lawmakers can’t seem to keep up.