Commissioner asks for help with bath salts danger
Information Night planned for Sept. 1 at Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen is asking school administrators and nurses to educate themselves and other school staff on the dangers and warning signs of bath salts use by students.
Following a surge in use of the synthetic drug, which is a hallucinogenic, and a parallel surge in emergency room visits due to overdose, Commissioner of Public Safety John Morris asked Bowen to share information with school personnel at the start of the school year. Gov. Paul R. LePage also spoke of his concern for the safety of school-age children with regard to bath salts in a recent press conference.
“The use of these drugs has increased so rapidly we really don’t know what to expect,” Bowen said. “We want to be prepared and make sure that our teachers, nurses, principals, and others are aware of the symptoms so we can help any child who is in danger.”
Bowen issued a Health Alert to schools last week, with a link to information about bath salts, symptoms to watch for, action to take, and additional resources. The Health Alert can be found at: http://mainedoenews.net/2011/08/17/alert-bath-salts/.
LePage reiterated his concern for the safety of students and adults at schools.
“One of my major concerns is this dangerous drug will become available to our school children,” LePage said. “I am very concerned that with schools opening soon, these drugs have the potential of finding their way into the classrooms.
“This is another step in creating awareness to this important issue,” he said. “I applaud Commissioner Bowen and the school administrators and nurses in taking a proactive role in increasing the safety for Maine’s students.”
In Presque Isle, organizations and businesses are teaming up to educate community members about the dangers of bath salts.
The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, The Aroostook Medical Center and WAGM-TV will be sponsoring a Bath Salts Community Awareness/Information Night Thursday, Sept. 1 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium.
Panelists and guest speakers will include Matthew Irwin, Presque Isle police chief; Clare Desrosiers, Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (ASAP); Mike Gahagan, Caribou police chief; Kathy Mazzuchelli, chair of the Community Alcohol and Drug Education Team (CADET); Peter McCorison, AMHC; and a TAMC physician.
“The purpose of this event is to educate the community about the dangers of this drug,” said Shawn Cunningham, medical anchor/reporter at WAGM-TV, who will emcee the presentation. “It’s important for local citizens to come together and partner with law enforcement to make them aware of this drug activity in our communities. We want people to hear and learn firsthand from panelists how this dangerous designer drug is hurting our communities.
“A lot of people are committing crimes and hurting themselves,” she said, “as suicide is one of the strong symptoms of this drug. We need to inform the public about how serious these drugs really are.”
In addition to suicidal thoughts and tendencies, people who take bath salts — which can be snorted, injected or even mixed with food and drink — can experience agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, chest pain, high blood pressure, increased heart rate and be prone to violence against others.
“Make no mistake … these are not bath salts like those you would use in your bath. These dangerous drugs are manmade by illegal street chemists,” Cunningham said. “They’re difficult to regulate getting into the U.S. because of misleading packaging and can even be bought over the Internet. In fact, by marketing them as bath salts and labeling them ‘not for human consumption,’ they have been able to avoid being specifically enumerated as ‘illegal’ according to physicians and law enforcement officials.
“You can find bath salts in mini-marts and smoke shops sold as Ivory Wave, Bolivian Bath, and other names. The people who make these drugs have skirted the laws that make these types of things illegal. While several states have banned the sale of bath salts, ultimately it will have to be a federal law that labels these as a schedule 1 drug, which means it has no medicinal value but a high potential for abuse, and declare them illegal,” she said. “All members of the community are invited to attend this event — particularly young people. When it comes to things of this severity, we need to come together as a community and have some type of awareness.”
In a recent weekly address, the governor said rural parts of Maine are seeing increased use in the drug.
“Police in Aroostook County are reporting abuse of bath salts which illustrate that rural areas have not been immune to this growing problem,” said LePage. “According to the Northern New England Poison Control Center, since the start of 2011, nearly 100 calls linked to bath salts were reported from Maine. The number is staggering when compared to the single call the Center took last year from Maine.
“I urge parents to familiarize themselves with the dangers of bath salts,” he said. “Also, if you suspect someone to be using this drug, please call 9-1-1 or contact your local authorities immediately.”
In July, Maine enacted emergency legislation to make it illegal to possess or sell any of the 21 different drugs or stimulants that are sold and marketed as bath salts.
“When the Legislature convenes next month,” said LePage, “it is my hope that we are able to strengthen the law even more.”
