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In the past four years, more than 300 synthetic designer drugs with names such as Spice, N-bombe and K2, have flooded into the United States.

“These drugs are being marketed and sold as legal alternatives to marijuana, cocaine, meth and heroin,” said John Scherbenske of the DEA.

As states and the federal government race to “schedule” or ban chemical compounds, the manufacturers are staying one step ahead of the law by constantly changing the drugs’ chemical composition.

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Across the country and around the world, synthetic drugs are tearing holes in families.

These “designer drugs” such as spice, K2 and bath salts are easy to get and difficult to regulate. Many are made in laboratories overseas and shipped to the United States with labels noting that they are “not for human consumption.”

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Tulare police began Thursday enforcing a new ordinance banning synthetic drugs known as “bath salt” or “spice,” becoming the first city in the county to take such step.

“This is a serious problem,” Tulare City Attorney Martin Koczanowicz said. “It’s starting to appear in various formats all over the United States.”

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“These individuals who are using this stuff are really playing Russian roulette. They have no idea what it is they’re taking, the poison they are putting in their bodies,” said Lt. Laz Chavez, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Originally Spice was marketed as synthetic marijuana, a legal high. Some of it is made to look like marijuana, but it isn’t. Not even close. “Correct. It is not marijuana. People smoke it, maybe one or two hits and they become paranoid, they begin acting crazy, running around, their body temperature heats up. They do things they would not normally do,” said Metro Captain Chris Darcy, who works in the narcotics division. 

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