Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH) Copyright: 2011 Morning Journal Contact: http://www.morningjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569 Author: Adam Mawson BATH SALTS PROVING TO BE NEW LOCAL DRUG TREND LORAIN COUNTY - Bath salts, sold over the counter but with the potential to become hallucinogens, are beginning to be a problem in 2the area, according to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. "Basically, what this stuff does is give you the effects of methamphetamine and LSD at the same time," said Detective Gregg Mehling of the Lorain County Drug Task Force. Mehling said the bath salts can be purchased online or in stores. The danger involves the effect of the bath salts, which are typically snorted, but can also be smoked or injected, he said. In addition to hallucinations, bath salts also speed up the heart rate and respiration of users. The task force had been researching bath salts after hearing of incidents in other cities including Medina and Mansfield. In the past two weeks, the sheriff's office has had three incidents, including one at the jail on July 6 where a man told corrections officers he was on bath salts and had to be taken to EMH Elyria Medical Center. "We hadn't really seen any until the last couple of weeks," said Mehling. "One of the guys came in and was acting very irrational. We had to take him to EMH." Lt. Jack Hammond said jail medical staff were unable to treat the man because of the side effects, so he was sent to the emergency room. The man could not be charged because the bath salts are legal. "People on these bath salts have an elevated risk of cardiac arrest no matter the age," he said. He added the jail medical administrator was unfamiliar with the side effects and contacted a hospital in Mansfield for more information. According to Mansfield police Sgt. Joy Stortz, the administrator had the right idea. Stortz, whose department also works with METRICH drug unit, said her department has been seeing people high on bath salts since January. "We started seeing it, but at the beginning we didn't know what was going on," she said, adding usage is regularly increasing. "I had a (Richland County) jail employee say they were seeing about eight people a day using bath salts." One of the biggest problems with continued use of the bath salts is not only health concerns, but also their addiction level is on par with heroin or methamphetamine, she said. Recently, Stortz had a caller say their 24-year-old daughter, who is a nursing student, was so addicted she was stealing from the family to get money to buy bath salts. Mansfield police have not yet had a death due to bath salts, but Stortz said there have been instances where a situation could have escalated badly due to the combination paranoia and increased aggression attributed to the use. On June 21, the Mansfield council passed a city ordinance making it illegal to sell, possess or consume them bath salts. "Other surrounding cities have come on board with it, but people can still buy it on the Internet or other cities," she said. Stortz credited the work of Mansfield Police Department Crime Lab chemist Tony Tambasco with helping to bring awareness and said he is currently working with the Ohio Attorney General's Office to put a state ban in place. Mehling said the packaging for the bath salts reads "not for human consumption" and there are no ingredients listed, which he said should convince users of their danger. "You don't know what you're putting in your body," he said. "As strongly as I can, I would suggest you not use them." He warns parents concerned their children could be using the drugs to be on the lookout for any kind of bizarre behavior. He said the salts typically are packaged in small bags or small canisters similar to lip balm and have names including Lady Bubble, Pure Ivory, and White Horse. For more information or to report abuse, Mehling said to call his office at 329-3853. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.