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Bath Salts: Possible
Legal & Health Problems... even Death
Juvenile & Probate Judge Jason Aslinger
There has been much discussion recently regarding the abuse of “bath
salts.” While recent events have received a lot of media coverage,
local law enforcement and the juvenile court were already well aware of
the sudden use of this drug in Darke County.
Make no mistake, “bath salts” are a powerful and dangerous drug. The
chemical compound is similar to methamphetamine, and people who abuse
this drug often have hallucinations, psychotic episodes, and suicidal
thoughts. Other potential health risks include kidney failure, organ
damage, heart attack, and stroke. There have been many deaths reported
nationwide. There are many more cases involving abusers who commit
criminal acts while in a drug-induced psychotic state.
“Bath salts” are not yet a controlled substance. Legislation is
currently pending which would make the sale and use of “bath salts”
illegal in Ohio. But right now, “bath salts” can be bought
over-the-counter. The name “bath salts” is itself deceiving because it
shares its name with the harmless product some people use in their
baths. The synthetic drug and the bath product are two different
substances altogether. The marketers of this drug use innocent sounding
brand names and sometimes promote the substance as a “safe designer
drug.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and the marketing
itself (targeted at younger people) is part of the danger.
The proposed legislation may be a step in the right direction, but it
does not address the immediate danger posed to our community. Everyone
needs to understand that a single use of “bath salts” can result in
legal problems, permanent serious health problems, and possibly even
death. Parents are encouraged to immediately discuss this issue with
their children - and especially their teenagers. Make sure your
children know the dangers. We need to educate the public as much as
possible to avoid having more people hurt by this dangerous drug.
Toby Spencer, Darke County Sheriff, Detective Eric Roberts, Greenville
Police Department, Jason Aslinger, Darke County Juvenile Court Judge
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