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Conviction carries jail term of up to two years, a fine of $5,000, and civil penalties.

WILKES-BARRE – It is now illegal for anyone to sell, trade, or exchange synthetic bath salts in Luzerne County.

County President Judge Thomas F. Burke Jr. on Monday granted a permanent injunction banning the transaction of bath salts containing certain chemicals.

Burke quickly issued his ruling minutes after listening to testimony from two medical experts, District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll and Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerard Dessoye, about the synthetic substance.

Musto Carroll requested the injunction in a petition she filed last week after several highly publicized episodes investigated by local police agencies.

She noted a West Pittston couple hallucinating on bath salts endangered a young child when they used knives to stab walls believing there were 90 people living in the walls.

“Anyone who sells bath salts in Luzerne County can be charged with reckless endangering or a public nuisance and also face civil penalties as well,” Musto Carroll said.

A conviction can carry a jail term of up to two years, a fine of $5,000, and civil penalties of $1,000 per sale.

Musto Carroll urged the state Senate to pass H.B. 365 that would add chemicals in bath salts under the state’s controlled substance act.

“Once that happens, we can enforce the drug act,” Musto Carroll said, adding, “We’re hoping the Legislature acts quickly so again, I’m urging the Senate to please look at this bill and move as quickly as you can.”

Since the bill unanimously passed the state House of Representatives on April 4, it has remained in the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee with no action, according to the state General Assembly’s website.

During Monday’s hearing, Dr. Michael J. Coyer, a forensic toxicologist with Northern Tier Research, testified he analyzed eight samples of bath salts purchased at different merchants in Luzerne County earlier this month.

He said the active ingredient in bath salts – MDPV – is related to ecstasy and another ingredient, Methadrone, is a stimulant similar to methamphetamines.

“It is only used to get high,” Coyer said.

Dr. Keith G. Vrabec, an emergency room physician at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, testified more than 100 people have been treated in the ER for bath salt overdoses.

He said he witnessed hospital staff getting attacked by patients seeking treatment for bath salts.

“They are out of control, loud and boisterous,” Vrabec said about bath salt users. “You have to give them some type of sedative because there is no cure for bath salts.”

Musto Carroll said the injunction not only covers merchants but also individuals.

“Right now, it is the sellers that we are going after with this injunction,” Musto Carroll said.

First reported at

Noon

Monday

timesleader.com

To see video from the proceedings, visit www.times

leader.com