At least one death and 22 cases of poisoning have prompted Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to call for an emergency law to ban the sale of synthetic drugs known as “bath salts.”
“Our investigation revealed that so-called ‘bath salts’ are dangerous drugs,” said Joshua M. Sharfstein, the department’s secretary.
“Bath salts” can be inhaled, ingested, smoked or injected. Users may develop cardiac and circulatory disturbances, agitation, delirium, paranoia and psychosis. There have been cases reported nationwide in which users have attempted to inflict injury on themselves or others. The agitation and delirium may persist for days to weeks.
The chemicals have raised alarm across the country in the past year. A raid in the Frederick County town of New Market in May uncovered two barrels of powder used the manufacture of the drugs. Although called “bath salts,” the drugs don’t contain the ingredients of traditional bath salts, health officials say. The drugs use names such as “Ivory Wave” and “Red Dove.”
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