THE NEW HIGH

Iowa Hospitals Report Spike In People Sick From Bath Salts

CHEROKEE, Iowa -- A growing number of people have been hospitalized in
Iowa due to the effects of designer drugs K2 and "bath salts" in
recent months, a trend that may indicate more are using dangerous
synthetic drugs.

"I've been the sheriff in Cherokee County for 14 years and this is the
worst that I've seen," said Sheriff Dave Scott.

Four people in Cherokee County, Iowa, last week became seriously ill
after ingesting what authorities believe were so-called bath salts, a
powdery substance often falsely marketed as a legal alternative to
cocaine.

While the drugs are often sold in colorful packages labeled "not for
human consumption," officials say that's just a smoke screen for their
real purpose of getting people high.

Scott said people recently affected by the bath salts were confused
and couldn't control their legs or arms, even to dial a phone.

One of the four people taken to a hospital in Cherokee was later
transferred to Mercy Medical Center - Sioux City and another was sent
to an assisted living facility, officials said.

It was the first time Scott had encountered people sickened by bath
salts. He said some of the victims suffered severe, life-long medical
complications.

The Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center received 17 reports of people
hospitalized from Dec. 20-27 for suspected use of bath salts and K2,
also called "Spice." As of Wednesday, 27 people had been admitted for
the drugs during the month of December.

That's more than five times the number reported a year ago and equals
the record number of cases reported in October.

"This is not large-city only, small-town only, northeast, northwest,"
said center Director Linda Kalin. "This is scattered in hospitals
throughout Iowa."

A new, dangerous fad

Spencer, Iowa, Police chief Mark Lawson said K2 seems to have replaced
huffing as the new fad among the city's young residents. He said
officers confiscated K2 about a dozen times since Spring, a rate
that's held steady since Iowa lawmakers banned the drug in August.

"I'd say it's the same right now only because it's still available out
there," Lawson said. "It's still there."

Two Spencer High School students became sickened after smoking K2
during their lunch hour and were taken to the hospital on Dec. 16,
officials said. Authorities say the teens' 17-year-old friend faces a
misdemeanor charge for supplying the drug.

"This is something that needs to be dealt with and it's definitely a
hazard to not only our young people, but also our middle aged, or
college kids," Lawson said.

Exact stats on usage are difficult to pin down, mainly because the
items aren't regulated. However, it's clear more are showing symptoms
of having used, Kalin said.

"I would say the increase in the number of Iowans requiring hospital
treatment makes me believe it's growing," she said. "More people
coming into our hospitals may mean more users."

Iowa not alone in usage

The issue is not confined to Iowa.

"The last few months, we've seen a dramatic increase in it," said
Sioux Falls police Officer Sam Clemens. "I think primarily the users
we're seeing are juveniles, but we're also seeing some adults use it
as well."

The increase in Sioux Falls, steady K2 numbers in Spencer and more
numerous reports to the Poison Center come despite laws outlawing the
drugs.

Nebraska and Iowa both have bans on the items; the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration in October issued a national one-year ban
on certain elements of the drugs.

South Dakota also bars specific compounds, but there is enough wiggle
room for retailers to skirt the law, Clemens said.

"If they just alter a molecule, it changes it from one compound to
another compound, which means it's not covered," he said.

Ingesting the drugs is a misdemeanor.

The situation is different in Sioux City, where police said the supply
of K2 and bath salts available at area gas stations and head shops
dried up due Iowa's laws. Users are now likely to buy it online,
officers said.

Sioux City police Sgt. Judy Kellen said officers have found less K2
possession in Sioux City since the ban. Sioux City police also say
reports of people possessing or getting sick from bath salts, while
infrequent before the ban, are even less common now.

"Our numbers have gone down," said Kellen, who supervises the
department's street-level drug unit. "And, our medical calls were
actually quite high right before the ban, and then after the ban our
medical calls have gone down."

She and other police say people should stay away from K2 and bath
salts. They say the drugs are dangerous because users don't know the
contents and intensity of chemicals varies from package to package,
making it hard for users to know how much they can handle.

"You smoke some of this synthetic stuff, and this could kill you
immediately," Lawson said. "Just don't mess with (it), period."