Experts confirm synthetic drug use in northwest Iowa

The allure of illegal synthetic drugs known as K2 and "bath salts" is causing more and more problems in northwest Iowa.

Illegal use of both K2, a synthetic marijuana, and "bath salts," synthetic chemicals, is occurring in several counties including Plymouth and Cherokee.

The Iowa Legislature passed a law last summer designating K2 and "bath salts" as controlled substances -- making them illegal.

Plymouth County law enforcement confirmed there have been several cases involving K2.

"We are seeing K2," said Sheriff Sgt. Rick Singer. "I won't say a lot of it, but it's starting to become more common."

Singer and Le Mars Police Officer Jay King, both members of the county's joint drug task force, said they haven't had any cases of "bath salts" in Plymouth County.

But that doesn't mean the synthetic drug is not here, King said.

"We have intelligence it's around," he said. "We know it's around, but as of yet we haven't charged anybody with it."

That's not the case in Cherokee County, where a "bath salts" investigation last month led to the arrest of a Galva man, who was charged with distributing "imitation controlled substances."

In that case, several people were hospitalized after ingesting the substance believed to be "bath salts," according to a press release.

Jeff Friederichsen, chief deputy Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, said two weeks ago, one of those people remained hospitalized and another was recovering in a nursing home.

He thinks the abuse of "bath salts" is a worsening problem in Iowa and elsewhere, Friederichsen said.

Linda Kalin, director of the Iowa Poison Control Center, held a similar view noting that the frequency of calls to the center regarding "bath salts" and K2 is rising.

"We have had an increasing number this past year attributed to people smoking and snorting products," she said. "I would call it an emerging drug problem in this country."

In a statistical comparison, in August 2010 the center did not receive any calls about K2 or "bath salts" compared to 15 and 6 calls, respectively, in August 2011.

Since August 2010, the poison control center has recorded 122 K2 calls and 66 "bath salts" calls.

Based on a national webinar about "bath salts" Kalin participated in, she said to her knowledge that synthetic drug did not originate in the United States.

Instead "bath salts" were brought to the U.S. from Asian countries such as China, she said.

Amy Bloch, program director for outpatient services at Jackson Recovery Centers, said K2 and "bath salts" presence in western Iowa is showing up in treatment centers.

Jackson Recovery offers general programs for treatment of addiction or for those experimenting with drugs in western Iowa. The center has an office in Le Mars.

"A couple years ago we had none (K2 cases) and now it is fairly common specific to individuals who have used marijuana," Bloch said.

She added that people addicted to "bath salts" have also been treated at Jackson Recovery Centers.

Bloch noted a recent case in Sioux City where two patients were in a five-day coma after ingesting the substance.

"They were burning it to create liquid form and injecting it," she said. "It is a total desperation to get high."

Bloch said she doesn't have specifics, but acknowledged there have been Plymouth County residents treated for K2 and "bath salts" addictions at Jackson Recovery Centers.

"K2 is probably more common right now," she said.

Mary Jo Clark, ER/Trauma coordinator at Floyd Valley Hospital, in Le Mars, said people have come to the hospital after experimenting with K2.

She said earlier in 2011, before the synthetic marijuana became illegal, three people were treated after using the drug.

"One of them came in twice," Clark added. "All of these were young people, 25 and under."

She said no one has come to the hospital specifically for "bath salts," but thought that synthetic drug and K2 were "equally dangerous."

Clark explained the two drugs have similar side effects including rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, anxiety and hallucinations.

And the synthetic makeup of the drugs -- as opposed to natural materials -- worsens the side effects, Clark said.

Even though there have been no cases of "bath salts" treated at Floyd Valley Hospital, Clark said in talking with other northwest Iowa emergency room directors, the danger is present.

"Almost everyone else I've talked to has had at least one bad case," she said. "Le Mars is very, very fortunate not to have had any bad cases."

Illegal synthetic drug use found nationwide

In August 2011 Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a law outlawing synthetic designer drugs such as K2 and "bath salts."

The law categorizes the synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule One Controlled Substances making them illegal to manufacture, sell or possess.

Below is a breakdown of each drug:

"Bath salts" = synthetic cathinones

* contain chemical stimulants Mephedrone and MDPV (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone)

* common names include Ivory Wave, Bliss, White Lightning, Hurricane Charlie, Vanilla Sky

* marketed and sold as actual bath salts, plant food, research chemicals

* snorted, injected, smoked, ingested orally

* available as capsules, white powder, dry leaves

* creates a euphoric and energetic feeling

* side effects: elevated heart rate and blood pressure, irritability, extreme paranoia, delusions, hallucination, suicide, aggressive and violent behavior

K2 = synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana)

* herbal and chemical product

* brand names include K2 and Spice

* smoked

* marketed as "herbal incense"

* available as dry leaves

* creates sense of enhanced physical and emotional sensitivity

* side effects: elevated heart rate and blood pressure, irritability, extreme paranoia, delusions, hallucination, suicide, aggressive and violent behavior

Sources: Iowa Poison Control Center, www.burningtree.com/bath-salts-abuse, www.wikipedia.org, law enforcement agencies and healthcare personnel