It was a gruesome story out of Miami that thrust the synthetic drug phenomenon of "bath salts" back into the public spotlight.
It's an emerging reality that local law enforcement nationwide must now face.
"The use of this drug brings about uncontrollable paranoia, hallucinations convulsions and psychotic episodes," Explains Abilene Police Information Officer George Spindler.
They're not the kind you put in your bath tub, that's just their street name. Even though the package clearly states "not for human consumption", people are swallowing or snorting the drug.
The scary part, is they're legal to buy, making it harder for police to stop people from using them.
"These designer drug makers out there are smart enough somehow to figure out how to change the chemical composition of some of these substances. And there lies the problem, because if that's not on the books as unlawful then we're back to square one," Said Spindler.
The drug is so new, the Abilene Police Department says it's only seen a handful of cases that may have been bath-salt related.
They've submitted those to the Department of Public Safety for analysis.
"We're better trained and aware because of whats going on now with this new emerging designer drug," Said Spindler.
A drug the department says they're keeping a close eye on.
"Drug awareness is going to be key here.. but this is a multidisciplinary situation that requires letting people know that there's dangers involved in ingesting these things. Because flat out .. they're poisons," Said Spindler.
It's an emerging reality that local law enforcement nationwide must now face.
"The use of this drug brings about uncontrollable paranoia, hallucinations convulsions and psychotic episodes," Explains Abilene Police Information Officer George Spindler.
They're not the kind you put in your bath tub, that's just their street name. Even though the package clearly states "not for human consumption", people are swallowing or snorting the drug.
The scary part, is they're legal to buy, making it harder for police to stop people from using them.
"These designer drug makers out there are smart enough somehow to figure out how to change the chemical composition of some of these substances. And there lies the problem, because if that's not on the books as unlawful then we're back to square one," Said Spindler.
The drug is so new, the Abilene Police Department says it's only seen a handful of cases that may have been bath-salt related.
They've submitted those to the Department of Public Safety for analysis.
"We're better trained and aware because of whats going on now with this new emerging designer drug," Said Spindler.
A drug the department says they're keeping a close eye on.
"Drug awareness is going to be key here.. but this is a multidisciplinary situation that requires letting people know that there's dangers involved in ingesting these things. Because flat out .. they're poisons," Said Spindler.
