By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – At a press conference with state law enforcement and health officials Thursday, Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered stores statewide to remove several brands of fake bath salts that have been known to trigger hallucinations and suicidal thoughts when snorted, smoked or injected, and authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish are already taking steps to ensure the products are removed from area store shelves.

The bath salts, along with certain varieties of fertilizer and insect repellent, have now been classified as schedule I controlled dangerous substances under state law, making them illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute them in Louisiana. The products are being cited as a possible contributor in the deaths of three people in Louisiana, where usage of the drugs has been highly common.

According to a release from Jindal’s office, since the end of September, Louisiana Poison Control has received 165 calls from people in crisis after snorting, smoking or injecting the phony bath salts. More than 80 percent of these calls came from emergency room physicians or first responders treating individuals suffering from side affects of ingesting the chemicals as drugs.

The release said similar instances are being reported nationwide, but the numbers in Louisiana represent about 57 percent of all calls recorded. Jindal said he is asking officials with the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate whether Louisiana is a distribution point for the drugs, but until then, he has given law enforcement agencies the power to get the drugs out of the public’s hands.

“Today’s announcement gives our law enforcement officials the tools they need to crack down on the people pushing these dangerous drugs,” Jindal said. “Our law enforcement officials can immediately take these drugs off the shelf – and at the same time, it’s now illegal to possess and use these dangerous chemicals. These drugs have crept into our communities and they are hurting our kids. We have to do everything in our power to protect our children and to make sure our streets are safe for our families.”

The fake bath salts, commonly manufactured in China and India, are being marketed as legitimate and are being sold in individual bags on the Internet and in convenience stores. The products possess brand names such as Ivory Wave, Ocean, Charge +, White Lightening, Scarface, Hurricane Charlie, Red Dove, Cloud-9 and White Dove.

Chemicals included in the bath salts that have been added to the state list of dangerous substances include 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (Methylone), 3,4-Methyenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 4-Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone), 4-methoxymethcathinone, 4-Fluoromethcathinone and 3-Fluoromethcathinone. The substances have no current medical use in the U.S., according to the release.

Authorities in St. John Parish say they have seen an increase in calls in the last few months from emergency rooms treating patients dealing with side affects of ingesting the substances.

“Our narcotics detectives say they noticed the ‘bath salts’ appear in the area about three months ago,” said Capt. Dane Clement, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman. “Since first seeing the products, detectives have noticed an increase in usage.”

Lt. Monty Adams, a narcotics detective in St. John, said in the past month calls related to ingestion of the substances have sharply increased because it is more potent than other similar narcotics, such as heroin. It has also been legal.

“We’ve seen cases where it is smoked, snorted or straight injected with a needle,” Adams said. “It depends on which brand is used. Some come as a powder, but others are a capsule that has to be broken up.”

Adams said the calls have come from emergency medical personnel, parents, even users themselves.

“We got one call about a guy who injected the ‘Cloud 9’ brand not too long ago,” Adams said. “He was paranoid, delusional and psychotic. He thought people were chasing him, he said the police were chasing him. The hallucinations are incredibly strong.”

Clement said only two convenience stores in the St. John Parish area, Birdies Food and Fuel locations in LaPlace on Airline Highway and Belle Terre Boulevard, have been known to carry products with the characteristics of the now banned substances. He said narcotics agents were starting to canvass the area Friday to ensure the product has been removed from all store shelves in St. John Parish.

“We are going to the stores to post the letter from the governor’s office and let the owners know what to look for,” Adams said. “If anyone is found in possession of the substances after today, they will be arrested.”

Birdies manager Mike Nabut said Thursday he had not been contacted by law enforcement officials about the substances, but was aware of Jindal’s announcement. He said he would be checking his stores to make sure he was not carrying any of the brands listed by the governor.

“Our owners are doing what needs to be done to get the substances out of the stores,” Nabut said.

According to the governor’s release, possession, manufacturing or distribution of the drugs listed will carry penalties similar to those of heroin, which could mean up to 30 years in prison.