SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Last month President Obama signed a bill into law that bans active ingredients used in many synthetic drugs. So far its done little to stop the surge in their use. They go by names like "spice", "K2" and "bath salts". They are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine.
But because of the chemicals used to make the drugs, they are highly unpredictable and potentially very dangerous.
"One thing that we have found is an increase in use between teenagers and college-age young adults", says Santa Maria Police Sgt. Terry Flaa.
Lompoc Federal Prison guard Timothy McNally is headed to trial for murder after shooting a fellow prison guard earlier this year in a Lompoc hotel room after the two had allegedly been using bath salts, McNally maintains the shooting was completely accidental and therefore not murder.
Earlier this month, a San Luis Obispo County parolee, Phillip Bailey, was arrested after a bizarre and brazenly violent display of behavior including a bank robbery, carjacking and police chase through Santa Maria that ended in several officers needing to subdue Bailey who was believed to have been under the influence of a powerful stimulant.
"Parents can talk to their kids about the dangers of any drugs to include synthetic drugs", Sgt. Flaa says, "even though they might not be illegal to possess at this time, they are certainly dangerous to use."
While some of the synthetics like "spice" are sold legally in local head shops, other synthetics can be found elsewhere on the web.
"In researching this topic I have found that some of these items are for sale on the Internet", Flaa says, "which again makes it very easy to get a hold of."
Law enforcement agencies and ambulance personnel say they are seeing a trend in violent or psychotic behavior linked to the use of synthetic drugs. Law enforcement agencies also acknowledge the ability to skirt laws by making hybrid versions of synthetic drugs with different chemicals makes it hard to crack down on their use.
