Congress Passes the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012

Addressing the threat of synthetic drugs, the US Congress passed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012.  It is part of the larger Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. The act classifies synthetic drugs as Schedule 1 in the Controlled Substances Act.  The list of banned synthetic substances includes mephedrone, mdpv (commonly found in Bath Salts), cannabimimetic agents and nine synthetic pyschedelics.  On Monday, July 9^th the act was signed into law by President Obama.

The danger of addiction to synthetic substances has dramatically increased over the last 3 years.  According to The American Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2010, poison centers nationwide responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic marijuana and bath salts. In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the cases involved patients 25 and younger.

To read the act in its entirety please click here.