Vt. bans 'bath salts' before it becomes a problem - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Vt. bans 'bath salts' before it becomes a problem

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The state of Vermont has made it illegal to possess the synthetic drug known as "bath salts."

Effective Friday, the state amended its regulated drug rule to include bath salts and five other synthetic designer drugs labeled "not for human consumption."

As of last month the Northern New England Poison center has recovered nearly 200 cases of bath salt abuse. Of those, 147 were in Maine, 35 in New Hampshire and 11 in Vermont.

Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn says Vermont doesn't have a serious problem with bath salts, but the best strategy is to ban the substance before it gets a foothold in Vermont.

Bath salts can cause complications that include high temperatures, seizures, muscle breakdown, kidney failure, heart rhythm disturbances and death.