Huntington County Hosts 'Bath Salts' Town Meeting
By: Andrew Logsdon
Updated: March 13, 2012
The Huntington county sheriff's department says the use of so-called 'legal drugs' continues to rise in the county.
Tonight law enforcement agencies and state anti-drug groups held a town hall meeting in Huntington to tell parents about the dangers of 'bath salts' and 'synthetic marijuana.'
Sheriff Terry Stoffel says some people think these synthetic drugs are safer than drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.
But he says they have more people in the county jail from crimes relating to the use of bath salts and synthetics than for any other drug.
And tonight his agency is telling parents that among teenagers, the use is skyrocketing.
"I've got marijuana here, I've got cocaine here... Actually a large amount of cocaine. I've got crystal meth," Stoffel says.
Sheriff Stoffel says more people in Huntington County are using bath salts and synthetic marijuanas to get high.
Many of these substances are legal.
"So the stuff that I have here can be bought legally over the counter and it will mess you up as bad as this stuff. You have this on you, there's nothing I can do to you," Stoffel says.
Last summer, the state legislature banned 'k-2,' 'spice,' and other synthetics.
Stoffel says all the drug's creators had to do was tweak the formula-- and the new mixes were legal, and stayed in the stores where children could purchase them.
"So the perception with the kids is this: if I can have this on me, it's legal and I can buy it over the counter, it can't be that bad for you," Stoffel says.
Tonight, local law enforcement and statewide anti-drug groups held a town hall meeting at Huntington north high school.
Two bath salt users- currently in jail for crimes they committed high on the drug- explained to parents that the threat is real.
"If I can come here and save one life, then I'm happy. I just, I think this bath salt is ridiculous," says inmate Joseph Ephelser.
"And I'll tell you one thing, it can kill you! It can actually kill you," says inmate Phillip Brooks, Sr.
Another bill awaits approval on Governor Mitch Daniels' desk that would outlaw all types of bath salts and synthetics, and could be signed within days.
"It's still going to be around, and we still need to educate the public about how dangerous it is, and it is extremely dangerous and it causes lots of problems," Stoffel says.
Stoffel says that when the bill passes, it would remove the drugs from stores, but people could still potentially get them illegally, like other drugs.
We checked out a few convenience stores in Huntington today, some that used to sell bath salts and synthetics.
No one would comment on camera, but we did not see them in all the stores we went into, and several said they no longer carry them because it's not worth the risk.
Tonight law enforcement agencies and state anti-drug groups held a town hall meeting in Huntington to tell parents about the dangers of 'bath salts' and 'synthetic marijuana.'
Sheriff Terry Stoffel says some people think these synthetic drugs are safer than drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.
But he says they have more people in the county jail from crimes relating to the use of bath salts and synthetics than for any other drug.
And tonight his agency is telling parents that among teenagers, the use is skyrocketing.
"I've got marijuana here, I've got cocaine here... Actually a large amount of cocaine. I've got crystal meth," Stoffel says.
Sheriff Stoffel says more people in Huntington County are using bath salts and synthetic marijuanas to get high.
Many of these substances are legal.
"So the stuff that I have here can be bought legally over the counter and it will mess you up as bad as this stuff. You have this on you, there's nothing I can do to you," Stoffel says.
Last summer, the state legislature banned 'k-2,' 'spice,' and other synthetics.
Stoffel says all the drug's creators had to do was tweak the formula-- and the new mixes were legal, and stayed in the stores where children could purchase them.
"So the perception with the kids is this: if I can have this on me, it's legal and I can buy it over the counter, it can't be that bad for you," Stoffel says.
Tonight, local law enforcement and statewide anti-drug groups held a town hall meeting at Huntington north high school.
Two bath salt users- currently in jail for crimes they committed high on the drug- explained to parents that the threat is real.
"If I can come here and save one life, then I'm happy. I just, I think this bath salt is ridiculous," says inmate Joseph Ephelser.
"And I'll tell you one thing, it can kill you! It can actually kill you," says inmate Phillip Brooks, Sr.
Another bill awaits approval on Governor Mitch Daniels' desk that would outlaw all types of bath salts and synthetics, and could be signed within days.
"It's still going to be around, and we still need to educate the public about how dangerous it is, and it is extremely dangerous and it causes lots of problems," Stoffel says.
Stoffel says that when the bill passes, it would remove the drugs from stores, but people could still potentially get them illegally, like other drugs.
We checked out a few convenience stores in Huntington today, some that used to sell bath salts and synthetics.
No one would comment on camera, but we did not see them in all the stores we went into, and several said they no longer carry them because it's not worth the risk.
