Pubdate: Sun, 03 May 2015
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2015 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Owen Boss
Page: 6

AUTHORITIES WARN ABOUT 'LEGAL LSD'

Federal authorities are cracking down on new designer drugs like 
N-Bomb, also known as "Legal LSD," hoping legislation aimed at making 
the synthetic hallucinogen illegal to possess in the Bay State will 
prevent more teen overdose deaths.

"There's no such thing as a safe synthetic drug. One dose can kill 
you," DEA spokesman Anthony Pettigrew said of N-Bomb, a synthetic 
drug gaining popularity among teens that can appear in a variety of 
forms. "Anytime someone uses any synthetic drug, including N-Bomb, 
they're playing Russian roulette."

N-Bomb, which first caught the attention of authorities in 2010, is 
being peddled online as a pill, powder, liquid eye drops and colorful 
paper blotter tabs. It is illegal to possess under federal law - but 
has not yet been outlawed by the state, something state Rep. Cory 
Atkins (D-Concord) and state Sen. Michael Moore (DMillbury) are 
hoping to change.

"The problem for our law enforcement officials is that they're out 
there trying to address the issue and they're handcuffed by the fact 
that they don't have the statutory authority to enforce it," Moore said.

Atkins said parents should be proactive with their kids and aware 
that the drug can be purchased online.

"This isn't beer, this isn't marijuana, this is something you can die 
from your first time trying it," Atkins said of N-Bomb. "This is a 
very, very dangerous drug and it's not something that kids should 
ever want to experiment with."

N-Bomb, also called "Smiles" and "25I" was linked to at least 19 
overdose deaths between March 2012 and August 2013, according to the 
DEA, with victims ranging in age from 15 to 29.

Though it is difficult to prosecute local drug dealers caught with 
N-Bomb under state law, federal authorities are cracking down. 
Mikayla Brogna, 19, of Acton pleaded guilty in federal court last 
month to selling 14 tabs of N-Bomb to a 16-year-old boy for $100. The 
unidentified boy was later hospitalized after suffering a non-fatal 
overdose, according to authorities. Brogna is scheduled to be 
sentenced on Aug. 11.

To stay one step ahead of dealers, state authorities need to be able 
to seize N-Bomb and charge those found to be in possession of it, 
Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said.

"It's important that it be classified as a Class B substance because 
that gives police the ability to seize it and charge people when they 
find it and it brings us in line with the federal legislation," Ryan 
said. "What parents need to know about this drug is that it is cheap, 
it's easy to hide and it's very, very dangerous."

Until drugs such as NBomb are clearly-defined and illegal to possess, 
the drug dealers producing them will continue to find ways around the law.

"The motive of the people that are selling N-Bomb and Molly and 
K2/Spice is to make money, whether it kills the user or not," 
Pettigrew said. "They're not that interested in the tragedies that it 
causes for the families - they're just interested in making money."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom