Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed a law Wednesday that outlaws designer drugs often referred to as bath salts.
The Governor called the use of bath salts a “scary epidemic” after he signed the measure in Dover.
“This is where public safety and law enforcement meet science and public policy,” said Markell. “This has been a scary epidemic. These drugs, with their high potential for abuse, have been a threat to people and public safety. The emergency ban ordered through Secretary of State Jeff Bullock in September has been a success because emergency rooms are seeing fewer people affected by these ‘bath salt’ drugs. By permanently banning these drugs, we hope to lessen their availability and their use.”
The bill was quickly approved this month by state lawmakers, who worked to enact a permanent ban on the drugs before a temporary ban imposed by state officials last year under an emergency rule expired.
“This new law not only permanently bans “bath salts,” but also more than a dozen chemicals that could be used to produce new versions of these dangerous mind-altering drugs,” said Attorney General Beau Biden.
Authorities say chemicals used to make bath salts can produce effects similar to those of cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, and can lead to dangerous, violent and suicidal manner.
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