State Senator Joseph Griffo is supporting legislation (Senate bill 3322) to ban the sale, manufacturing possession and distribution of products he says are deceptively labeled “bath salts” which are being used as hallucinogenic drugs.

A statement from Griffo’s office says these “bath salts” are a dangerous combination of chemicals that cause extreme paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, hypertension, chest pain, headache, and suicidal thoughts when smoked, snorted or injected.

Sold online, in convenience stores, and smoke shops, the dangerous products are sold under the names White Rush, Bolivian Bath, Vanilla Sky as well as many others. In New York State, “bath salts” have recently been found at stores near the state Capitol in Albany.

Just as products such as K2 and Spice “incense” are marketed as legal alternatives to marijuana, these products sold as “bath salts” or “plant food” are perceived as legal alternatives to cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamines.

Senator Griffo said, “These so-called ‘bath salts’ are not the same as aromatic bath salts. They contain a potentially lethal mix of synthetic drugs and serve no purpose other than to get the user high. My legislation would ban these dangerous substances so we may help keep our young people safe and give our law enforcement the authority to rid our state of these dangerous drugs.”

The bill would add the six chemical compounds to the state’s list of Schedule 1 drugs, thereby classifying each as a controlled substance. Controlled substances are defined as those that have a high potential for abuse and addiction.

A person found possessing, manufacturing, or distributing any of these substances would face a class C felony for criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The Upstate New York Poison Center has taken five calls related to abuse of these products this year, according to Griffo, but the director of the center cautions that there may be cases related to “bath salts,” but not being recognized as such.

The Upstate New York Poison Center’s cases include a 22 year old female who reported having hallucinations and feelings of paranoia while snorting the “bath salts” over a three day period. Once she stopped taking the drug, the woman stated she continued to feel restless, shaky, and had insomnia, and had tooth pain and a sore throat, but refused medical care.

Another call was from a 21 year old male who admitted to snorting “bath salts” over the course of a few days and was brought to the emergency room after stating that he felt shaky and his heart was racing. While he was awake, alert and taking, his heart rate was elevated to a dangerous 144 beats per minute, he was hypertensive, and he was breathing rapidly. In addition to being dehydrated, the young man risked harm to his muscles and kidneys. It took medical staff six hours to resolve his symptoms.

Nationwide U.S. poison centers have taken 251 calls regarding the so-called “bath salts” this year alone compared with 236 calls about the products in 2010, according to the America Association of Poison Control Centers.

According to the Associated Press, nationwide, at least one woman overdosed and one man shot himself, both allegedly under the influence of “bath salts.” Other media reports include a host of violent behaviors while under the influence of the these substances and an increase in emergency room visits due to people suffering trauma after taking the drugs.

“While I am glad the federal government is also taking steps to ban these dangerous drugs, the state legislation is necessary so we may stop the perilous abuse of so-called “bath salts” before it becomes an epidemic in our State, “Senator Griffo said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly to act swiftly in passing this important legislation.”

New York would be following Florida, Louisiana, and North Dakota in banning the sale of the chemical substances that make up “bath salts” The federal government is also considering a ban on the substances.

A similar bill has been introduced in the state Assembly.