Synthetic Drug Enforcement
The Indiana Attorney General's Office in partnership with the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Department of Revenue, Indiana Board of Pharmacy, Indiana Sheriff's Association and local county Prosecutors is enforcing Indiana's ban on the sale of bath salts, spice and other synthetic drugs.
These novelty powders, materials, and salts have street names such as Spice, K2, Ivory Wave, White Lightning, Blaze, Smoke, Incense, Potpourri, Plant Food, Nitro and Red Wave. When ingested, the substances can cause harmful and serious effects.
Synthetic cannabinoids are a mixture of herbs sprayed with synthetic chemicals that replicate the psychoactive chemical in marijuana (THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol). When ingested, the drug replicates the effects of THC resulting in heightened mood, enhanced humor, heightened curiosity and intrigue, and sedation.
Synthetic cathinones are powder or crystalline substances that are sold as bath salts, potpourri, hookah cleaners, plant food, and/or plant growth regulators. When ingested, snorted, smoked or injected, the drug produces a stimulant high similar to cocaine, resulting in euphoria, increased sociability, enhanced creativity and feelings of empathy.
However, these substances also frequently lead to chest pain, hallucinations, delusions, seizures, vomiting, headaches, hypertension, extreme paranoia, rapid heart rate, kidney damage, liver damage, disturbed sleep patterns, and/or other harmful and damaging results. (Source: Indiana Poison Center).
Synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones (together defined as synthetic drugs) are banned in Indiana (Senate Enrolled Act 57, effective July 1, 2011; House Enrolled Act 1196, effective March 15, 2012).
The Attorney General's Office joins Prosecutors and other law enforcement around the state to put retailers on notice that they will aggressively pursue any person or business involved in the sale of these dangerous substances.
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