The 'bath salts' are analog drugs which contain derivative compounds w/psychogenic properties-in other words, they get you high. Because the chemical compounds are different from what the state statutes say are illegal, they can be sold openly, but they carry 'warnings' which say, "not for internal use." Kids smoke, snort, or eat them anyway. They get high, but some have violent reactions to the compounds and side-effects reported are nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, seizures, etc., not to mention violent psychotic behavior. One of the issues is that they may potentiate other substances which the victim has ingested, smoked, injected, or introduced into the body some other way, inhaled, rectally, etc... . The Center for Disease Control says at least 30 states have legislated against the misuse of bath salts as-of 2012.
-hey, cool! The Miami Heat just beat the Boston Celtics in NBA Eastern Conference overtime, and while posting this after the game, I heard a distinctive drone overhead, outside. It was the Goodyear blimp headed back from downtown Miami to its hanger in Pompano Beach.
MI now requires hospitals to report to the state Department of Health cases of bath salts intoxication/poisoning.
Here is a good factual report on hazards local jurisdictions face:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/04/pennsylvania_law_drug_enforcem.html
I like the story where the guy claimed "electricity was chasing me!"
So, it's become similar to the methamphetamine problem for governments across the country, in severity of effects on those victims of overdoses if not yet in raw numbers of those affected.
We incorporate information on substances such as synthetic marijuana and bath salts to the EMT and paramedic students locally in our program, because these are real dangers to the safety and well-being of first responders, including firefighters, EMT's/paramedics (here in south FL nearly every jurisdiction uses professional firefighters cross-trained as EMT's and paramedics), police, and hospital ER workers.