COLLINS INTRODUCES BILL TO BAN LIFE-THREATENING CHEMICALS SOLD AS BATH SALTS.

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The following information was released by the Illinois State Senate Democrats:

Written by Collins Staff

State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) has introduced legislation to ban dangerous synthetic drugs that are being sold in the form of "bath salts." When ingested, the chemicals being marketed as bath salts can cause suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, paranoia and violent behavior. Senator Collins has filed legislation in an effort to eradicate this type of usage.

"It's extremely important that we take swift action to make the people of Illinois aware of this issue and to make the sale, distribution and possession of these harmful substances illegal," said Senator Collins. The matter was brought to Senator Collins attention by community activist, Andrew Holmes who said, "I am disturbed by people getting high off of these synthetic drugs that are being marketed as bath salts."

The predominant chemicals found in these products are mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, also known as MDPV. Southern states such as Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana have all sought to address this trend by banning the bath salts. Recently, the use of these bath salts as a means of accessing these harmful drugs has become more prevalent in Illinois. The chemically-laced bath salts have been found for sale in smoke shops, convenience stores and on the Internet.

"Over the last several weeks the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) has received an increase of calls related to the substance sold as 'bath salts,'" said Dr. Carol DesLauriers, Operations Director at the IPC. "To date the IPC has received a total of 41 calls regarding exposures to bath salts, with many requiring hospital evaluation. Due to the often harmful side effects associated with the amphetamine-like substance, the IPC supports immediate regulation of this emerging drug of abuse."

This legislation would ban the possession of these chemicals, whether in the form of bath salts or otherwise, regulating them as Schedule I controlled substances due to the danger they present, and making possession of them a felony.