in early April, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of a bill that added substances found in bath salts to the state’s controlled substance list.
Bath salts were previously sold at locations such as convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops, truck stops and adult book and video stores.
Any individual or location caught selling bath salts after the order is entered will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Miller said in a Wednesday press release.
according to the same release, a chemical analysis of bath salts revealed that the product has nothing in common with actual bath salts, which are used to soften and perfume bath water. Instead, the designer drug bath salts have three to five times the potency of Ritalin and have psychedelic and psychoactive properties, according to the release from Parks Miller.
Parks Miller said the lawsuit was put into action because of the increase in hospital visits related to bath salt usage. according to the press release, law enforcement officials said the incidents of people driving under the influence of bath salts in Centre County is on the rise, and it is continuing to multiply. Hospitalization from bath salt usage has also increased, as the Mount Nittany Medical Center treated 20 bath salt users in March.
Those admitted to the hospital after using bath salts often experienced agitation, paranoia, delusions and hallucinations, or suicidal feelings, according to the release.
the manager of Dragon Chasers Emporium and Penn State alumnus, Nick Sanchez, said he and the employees of the store are glad to see the injunction of bath salts.
“It’s terrible for you,” Sanchez said. “I’m surprised the ban didn’t happen earlier.”
Sanchez said Dragon Chasers Emporium previously sold three different brands of bath salts, including White Rush, Recharge and Ocean Burst. he said the products are no longer on the shelves and will be removed from the premises.
Employees at the Uni-Mart in Bellefonte and Jamaican Junction were not available for comment as of Wednesday evening.
