Pam Bondi Urges Students to Stay Away from Synthetic Drugs

In advance of spring break season, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a statement warning students about the dangers of synthetic drugs. Synthetic drugs, sometimes referred to as incense, potpourri, K2, spice, and bath salts, can cause psychotic episodes, hallucinations, seizures, paranoia, tremors, and more.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network report, more than 11,000 emergency room visits nationwide involved a synthetic cannabinoid product in 2010, and the majority of the visits were from kids ranging from 12 to 17.In December, Bondi announced an emergency rule banning additional synthetic compounds, and this legislative session she is working with Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, and Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, to permanently ban 23 synthetic compounds.

Synthetic drugs are extremely dangerous substances that are being marketed to our youth, Bondi said in her release. I urge students across the state to stay away from these drugs, and I remind retailers that carrying these substances is illegal under Florida law.

Bondi has made the drug war a priority of her administration. In 2011, she signed an emergency rule that temporarily outlawed MDPV, commonly known as "bath salts." She has also worked closely with the Florida Legislature over the past two legislative sessions to add cathinones, also commonly known as bath salts, and cannabinoids, commonly known as K2 or Spice, to the schedule of controlled substances.