Bath salts Q and A: The evolution of a synthetic drug in the Syracuse area

Syracuse, NY -- Bath salts is an elusive drug. Its not the Epsom salts available at a bath and body store. Its not a single type of drug. And these days, it may not even be called bath salts. Here are some frequently asked questions about bath salts:

What Syracuse can learn from Louisiana's "bath salts" epidemic

What is it?

Bath salts originally described a synthetic drug sold in crystals that mimicked the effects of amphetamines, also known as speed. The drug was first reported in Europe, including Ireland, in early 2010, according to news accounts. Since then, the drug has branched out to substances beyond Mephedrone and MDPV, the two original drugs. In slang, it now covers any synthetic drug that gives the user a euphoric high. But the term has become so well known to law enforcement that other slang terms are used: plant fertilizer, glass cleaner or research chemicals.

Why is it so hard to stop?

The major difference between synthetic drugs and their predecessors is that synthetic drugs can be tweaked to avoid detection and the law. Chemical test kits do not test for all drugs; law enforcement must know what drug to test for. So a drug that constantly changes is a moving target.

The slang terms for these synthetic drugs are always changing. Using social media, drug users can quickly learn the new lingo. And the Internet is full of anonymous sites that review the newest, latest drugs. Thats a big change from previous decades, when it took longer for users to adapt and law enforcement could keep up.

Additionally, drug laws cannot ban broad types of drugs. While federal laws ban drugs similar in composition to illegal ones, they dont cover the infinite drug combinations out there. Passing new legislation is a slow, after-the-fact process. Officers in Louisiana have seized synthetic drugs, only to be forced to give them back because they werent illegal.

Lastly, most of these drugs are produced overseas. To stop production means a diplomatic process in which federal drug officials work with foreign countries to crack down. Prosecution means working with foreign justice systems and extradition to the United States.

With such little control, federal agents are hoping to curb the market for such drugs to the extent that they arent profitable to make. But agents admit the drug makers could then switch to something else.

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Bath salts Q and A: The evolution of a synthetic drug in the Syracuse area