Pubdate: Tue, 09 Apr 2013
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2013 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Page: B8

Curbing Dangerous Synthetic Drugs

3 CHEERS FOR 'BATH SALTS' LAW

Legal high? Try yoga. Go for a hike. But don't try to buy synthetic 
drugs that mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as marijuana or 
methamphetamine. It's dangerous. Besides, it just got harder.

Gov. Jan Brewer's signature on a bill sponsored by Rep. Eddie 
Farnsworth is the latest effort to give law enforcement the tools 
necessary to keep designer drugs off the store shelves.

These "legal" highs are psychoactive drugs that produce unpredictable 
reactions. Emergency-room doctors say they don't always know how to 
treat the bizarre symptoms. Using this stuff can cause permanent 
psychological and physical damage. Not to mention death.

But to users, these synthetic drugs can appear safe because they can 
be legally purchased - albeit not for the express purpose of getting 
high. They are marketed as incense (wink, wink) or other 
innocuous-sounding products.

Also known as spice or bath salts, these synthetic highs have 
remained legally available because the pushers - oops, manufacturers 
- - could tweak the formulas slightly to get around previous bans. This 
new ban is designed to provide more flexibility to go after a big 
danger for Arizona.

The new law reflects a concerted effort by Yavapai County Attorney 
Sheila Polk and the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council 
to find an approach lawmakers could embrace.

That's done. And it's an effort worth celebrating.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom