Attleboro Families Petition to Ban Dangerous "Bath Salts"

A , to classify bath salts as a Class C substance under the state's Controlled Substances Act, is slated to be discussed during a public hearing before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on Beacon Hill this afternoon.

Representative Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro), who cosponsored the bill, who have been directly impacted by the effects of bath salts and representatives from approximately 75 police departments including Attleboro, North Attleboro joined Ross at the hearing. Rep. Steven Howitt who represents Norton, Rehoboth, Swansea and Seekonk also petititoned in support of the bill.

The hearing comes just days after the United States Drug Enforcement Administration placed the key ingredients found in “bath salts” under federal control and regulation.

The use of bath salts as a way to get high has been a growing problem throughout the nation. In fact, several states have banned it from store shelves. In Attleboro, had on their children. The effects were such that one of the users of the bath salts had to be hospitilized for more than a month. Two Attleboro residents, with support from their family, testified on what the drug did to them.

Ross sponsored the bill after learning about how the bath salts were and how they are highly addictive. Ross said he was dismayed to learn about the effects the chemical in the bath salts had on those who ingested it which can include suicidal thoughts, paranoia and fatigue.

Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney testified in support of the legislation. "We are familiar with the various locations and stores that have sold bath salts (in Attleboro) and asked them to remove them from the shelves. They did comply but confidential sources say it's been made available behind the shelf with word of mouth requests," Heagney said. "I know it's legal, but legal does not mean safe."

Three of those stores include the on West Street, The Station House as station at the corner of Park and Maple Streets, on Pleasant Street and fourth store in the South Attleboro area.