Poison Center: Beware Fake ‘Bath Salts’

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Poison center officials say new drugs being sold as fake bath salts, fake fertilizer or fake insect repellent are sending experienced drug abusers to emergency rooms around the country.

Mark Ryan of the Louisiana Poison Center says at least 84 people around Louisiana have been hospitalized for effects including paranoia, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.

Henry Spiller of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center in Louisville says the people he's treated had histories of abusing cocaine or methamphetamine — but couldn't handle these drugs.

Ryan says that, nationwide, poison centers have gotten 160 calls about the drugs — including 91 in Louisiana and 19 in Kentucky.

They're are called mephedrone and MDPV — short for methylenedioxypyrovalerone.