Police in Bangor, Maine, the big town for most of a very rural state, report as many as seven daily incidents involving bath salts, "a synthetic cathinone" that produces highs lasting 20 minutes to three hours with possible manic behavior, delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, hyperactivity, nightmares, violence or suicidal depression to follow, Andrew Neff of the Bangor Daily News reports. This high volume of incidents have local law enforcement seeking answers. (CBS News photo)"Over the last two months, it has gotten out of control quickly and as bad as anything I can recall in my nearly 29 years in law enforcement," Police Chief Ron Gastia told city officials, emergency workers and politicians at an assembly. "This issue has reached close to epidemic proportions and certainly, at least to me personally, is a crisis."
The first reports of bath salts in Bangor came in the spring, and the drug's popularity has since grown. Police Lt. Tom Reagan credits that to cheap prices, easy access and small legal penalties. "It was initially thought of as safe, cheap and easily available. Also the penalties are not as severe as it is a Class E crime to sell it. People still look at this drug as one worth taking the chance to use because there is little chance of jail time if you get caught." The penalty for users and sellers may be as small as a $350 fine or a summons, Neff reports.
Click here to listen to The Maine Public Broadcasting Network's report on bath salts.
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