Are bath salts a dangerous new drug, and are they illegal anywhere in the United States of America?

[hob97]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012203854.html
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FULTON, MISS. - When Neil Brown got high on bath salts, he took his skinning knife and slit his face and stomach repeatedly. Brown survived, but authorities say others haven't been so lucky after snorting, injecting or smoking powders with such innocuous-sounding names as Ivory Snow, Red Dove and Vanilla Sky.

Law enforcement agents and poison control centers say the bath salts, with their complex chemical names, are an emerging menace in several U.S. states where authorities talk of banning their sale. Some say their effects can be as powerful as those of methamphetamine.

From the Deep South to California, emergency calls are being reported over exposure to the stimulants the powders often contain: mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, also known as MDPV.

Sold under such names as Ivory Wave, Bliss, White Lightning and Hurricane Charlie, the chemicals can cause hallucinations, paranoia, a rapid heart rate and suicidal thoughts, authorities say. In addition to bath salts, the chemicals can be found in plant foods that are sold legally at convenience stores and on the Internet. However, they aren't necessarily being used for the purposes on the label.
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[nissim42]

I don't see why these should be outlawed. This is evolution at work!

[iomar]

I don't see why these should be outlawed. This is evolution at work!

There's always going to be something that a bunch of fools will find a way to abuse. Everything from glue to household cleaning products to cold medications. Anything has the potential for abuse and these idiots would just find a way to make these products themselves. I hope the government doesn't cave in and ban these products that normal people use for what they're intended to be used for.

[byron92]

They are not illegal in th US yet but it looks like it will be heading that way.