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Synthetic Cocaine Sold As 'Bath Salts'
www.clickorlando.com ^ | 1-17-2011 | Staff

Posted on 01/18/2011 10:35:44 AM PST by Red Badger

DEA Warns Synthetic Drug Appearing In Gas Stations, Head Shops, Online

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Experts are warning parents about the latest synthetic drug labeled as "bath salts" that has rapidly spread across the Orlando area and has already sent dozens of young people to Florida hospitals.

Don't let the label fool you. The makers call it "bath salts" or "plant feeder" and are sold under a variety of brand names, but experts say it's really fake cocaine. The labels also usually say it's "not for human consumption" but in a drug alert sent in December, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said teens are snorting it to get high. The DEA said it gives users euphoria and extreme energy, but they'll also appear agitated, suffer from hallucinations, or worse.

"Some people get even chest pain or cardiovascular collapse," said Dr. Josef Thundiyil, who works in Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency rooms and is a toxicologist. "It's appealing to kids because it is legal, because you can get it on the Internet. Whenever it's new and on the Internet there's the appearance that it might be safe, when in reality we actually don't know that it's safe."

s also appealing to young people because the price is right -- under $50 in most places. The DEA said the fake drug is sold in convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations and online. The Florida Poison Information Center said fake cocaine started showing up in Florida last August. Since then, Central Florida hospitals have seen the majority of the 41 cases statewide. Users have reportedly been sent to emergency room or psychiatric wards.

"I think that's just the tip of the iceberg because there's no mandatory reporting," said Thundiyil, who explained that hospitals are not required to tell the Florida Poison Information Center about cases, so there's no telling how many other kids have been hurt by this latest fake drug.

Doctors said parents need to watch their children closely for signs of abuse, because it does not show up on drug tests.

The synthetic cocaine has been prevalent in the United Kingdom for years, and was only recently banned after deaths were reported.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: bathsalts; coke; drugs; wod

Is your teenager taking more baths lately?...........

1 posted on 01/18/2011 10:35:51 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Reminds me of the olden days, back when we smoked banana peels.

Well, we didn’t really smoke them, but we thought about it.


2 posted on 01/18/2011 10:40:38 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Red Badger

I swear that 20% of the people are too stupid to live.


3 posted on 01/18/2011 10:40:44 AM PST by GeronL (How DARE you have an opinion!!)
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To: Red Badger

I believe the article is referring to “mephedrone” which is much closer to methamphetamine in its effects. Very easy to get and I have already seen a lot of cases of it in suburban and urban areas (I work as a paramedic). In most cases the patient was complaining of chest pain, palpitations and were extremely anxious.


4 posted on 01/18/2011 10:41:14 AM PST by sc2_ct
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To: Red Badger

geez, what will they think of next?


5 posted on 01/18/2011 10:41:19 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: Red Badger

I can hear the crappy rap songs now:

Bathin’ in cocaine,
Bay, bathin’ in cocaine...


6 posted on 01/18/2011 10:42:57 AM PST by struggle ((The struggle continues))
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To: sc2_ct

>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDPV


7 posted on 01/18/2011 10:43:35 AM PST by struggle ((The struggle continues))
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To: GeronL

That’s what the Democrat party banks on..................


8 posted on 01/18/2011 10:45:12 AM PST by Red Badger (Whenever these vermin call you an 'idiot', you can be sure that you are doing something right.)
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To: Red Badger

Wow. This is too much


9 posted on 01/18/2011 10:46:22 AM PST by therightliveswithus
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To: Red Badger

Democrat voter base.

says a lot.


10 posted on 01/18/2011 10:46:22 AM PST by GeronL (http://www.stink-eye.net/forum/index.php)
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To: Red Badger
Doctors said parents need to watch their children closely for signs of abuse, because it does not show up on drug tests.

If it was synthetic cocaine, wouldn't it show up on a drug test as cocaine?

11 posted on 01/18/2011 10:49:13 AM PST by tacticalogic
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To: GeronL

You’re obviously an optimist.


12 posted on 01/18/2011 10:56:07 AM PST by meatloaf
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To: meatloaf

Only on Tuesdays and alternating Thursdays


13 posted on 01/18/2011 11:01:22 AM PST by GeronL (http://www.stink-eye.net/forum/index.php)
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To: Red Badger
Synthetic Coke? That is what is wrong with today's lazy youth. Back in the old days we had to used real Coke and we liked it. None of this phony nonsense.


14 posted on 01/18/2011 11:02:31 AM PST by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Red Badger
I wonder how many kids have tried "Cheesing" so far? http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s12e03-major-boobage
15 posted on 01/18/2011 11:03:53 AM PST by mowowie
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To: therightliveswithus
Wow. This is too much

I dunno...It's probably pretty cheap compared to the real stuff!............

16 posted on 01/18/2011 11:04:42 AM PST by Red Badger (Whenever these vermin call you an 'idiot', you can be sure that you are doing something right.)
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To: WOBBLY BOB

Don’t ask. You might not want to know.........


17 posted on 01/18/2011 11:05:50 AM PST by Red Badger (Whenever these vermin call you an 'idiot', you can be sure that you are doing something right.)
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To: mowowie

I don’t want to know..............


18 posted on 01/18/2011 11:06:47 AM PST by Red Badger (Whenever these vermin call you an 'idiot', you can be sure that you are doing something right.)
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To: Red Badger

bookmark


19 posted on 01/18/2011 11:13:12 AM PST by TASMANIANRED (Liberals are educated above their level of intelligence.. Thanks Sr. Angelica)
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