AREA SHERIFF ISSUES DESIGNER DRUG WARNING

BARRON - The Barron County Sheriff is warning about the danger of a
new group of designer drugs called "bath salts," that have required
six Barron County residents to seek emergency medical treatment this
year.

"Bath salts" contain the drug mephedrone, or MDPV, which is similar to
ecstasy, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a press
release issued Monday.

"Bath salts have proven to be very dangerous here and across the
nation," Fitzgerald said. "Every batch can contain different
variations and amounts of these drugs, making it hard to know how
individuals will respond."

These drugs previously were sold under such names as Ivory Wave and
Bolivian Bath, Fitzgerald said, but as of July 1 it is illegal to sell
such drugs in Wisconsin.

Symptoms reported after use of this drug include agitation, paranoia,
hallucinations, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain and
increased risk of suicide," Fitzgerald said.