Bath Salts: What Every Cops Needs To Know
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Volume 14 Program 6
Bath Salts:
What Every Cops Needs To Know
DUTY SHEET and LESSON PLAN
25:00 Minutes
IN THE LINE OF DUTY is produced exclusively as an interactive sharing resource for the
law enforcement community. No commercial use or access to the public at large is permitted
without the authorization of L.O.D., Inc. This program contains actual video of real police
incidents with no reenactments or simulations. The program is protected by copyright.
Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited without authorization from L.O.D., Inc.
The material included in this program is designed for informational purposes only. IN
THE LINE OF DUTY makes no representation regarding the effectiveness or appropriateness of
any action or technique depicted herein. It is not intended to replace or supersede existing
training policies or guidelines of individual law enforcement agencies.Overview
It almost seems as if naked ‘zombies’ have been competing to the get onto the 10
o’clock news. Maybe it’s good for ratings or a few laughs, but, for cops everywhere, one of the
most dangerous phenomenon they have faced in years—Bath Salts. And for patrol officers one
of the most important points to take away from this video is that there is almost no chance
you’ll be able to verbally communicate with subjects high on Bath Salts.
What are Bath Salts?
Bath salts are a synthetic drug manufactured to give similar highs to that of
methamphetamines. Sgt. Tim Ware of the St. Louis County (MO)(assigned to a DEA task for as
of this production) says one of the reasons bath salts are so dangerous is because we don’t
know exactly what ingredients are going into each batch. Either smoked or injected, bath salts
consist largely of chemicals meant for research that have been bastardized by dealers for
profits. These chemicals can be legally purchased on the internet or overseas and then mixed
with fillers such as caffeine or B12 powder. If you have a reasonably good grasp of chemistry
and know which chemicals are similar to methamphetamines it’s relatively easy and
inexpensive to manufacture your own bath salts to sell. Because the ingredients are relatively
inexpensive, if you manufacture large enough batches to sell producers/distributors can almost
double their money or more. That is high incentive for many.
It is important to know that many of the ingredients in bath salts are legal. Because of
this there is an assumed low risk to buying it and selling it. Bath salts are sold in gas stations,
convenience stores, smoke shops, and truck stops in packages often marked ‘not safe for
human consumption’ or ‘for adult use only’. They can be sold as insect repellant, plant food,
cleaner, etc…. For users, instead of having to find a drug dealer somewhere in a bad area of
town they can go into a local gas station and pull it off the shelf or ask at the register. This
assumed low risk gives bath salts a wider market and makes it a different kind of threat to
society.
The government is cracking down by banning the ingredients that commonly go into
bath salts. This seems like it would be easier to prosecute, however, all the manufacturers have
to do is tweak the recipe a little bit—alter this or change that—and suddenly it’s a new
chemical—a non-controlled substance. The new chemical created is called an analog: a
compound having a structure similar to that of another one but differing from it in respect of
a certain component. In other words, the structure is similar enough to the banned chemical to
give the same high but different enough to be considered legal. The almost endless variation of
ingredients makes it impossible to know how a user will react and also makes it hard for the
government to keep up. Slowly the Federal and State governments are catching up and are
beginning to consider these analogs to be the same as the controlled substance--but are they
catching up fast enough? It remains a never-ending vicious cycle, say experts, especially when
profits can reach into the billions of dollars.
The Dangers of Bath Salts
The dangers for users are so numerous it’s mind boggling anyone would actually ingest
this stuff. Many of the chemicals being used have never been tested on humans—and for good
reason. There are no studies on what they could do to your body or your mind. Many times the
high given is called a creeping high. If a user ingests a little bit there may be no immediate
effects. They take another shot and this time it starts to work but they have already overdosed,potentially doubling the effects. This is one of the many dangers of bath salts.
For patrol officers the dangers of dealing with subjects who have ingested bath salts—or
synthetic marijuana—are as numerous and wide as what has gone into the active ingredients of
a given batch. We do know that, depending on the ‘quality’ of the ingredients, users may
experience similar highs to that of cocaine and/or meth. As of this production, however, there
is no blood test to determine the subjects are, in fact, under the influence of bath salts.
Complaining of being dizzy, sweating profusely yet sitting still, racing heart, acting as if they are
seeing things, talking funny, or any combination of those things can help to alert you that they
have just consumed bath salts. That is the crux of the issue for patrol: you probably won’t know
exactly what they have ingested and you almost certainly won’t know how they could react to it.
Because it is similar to an adverse reaction to methamphetamines, officers should respond in
the same manner as that of any bizarre behavior call. The faster you can get them under control
the better.
Guidelines and Protocol
Upon reports of a subject who is naked, aggressive, screaming, aggressing traffic
(especially at night because of headlights) or glass (for some reason glass seems to
compel them to violence) officers should request EMS stage nearby for a rapid
transition to paramedic’s custody and treatments with ALS capabilities.
This is a multiple officer call. Request backup and do not approach without working out
a plan on how this subject is going to be taken into custody.
While this person may be liable to arrest for ingestion of illegal drugs (depending on
jurisdiction) this is a medical crisis call. Be prepared to justify all force due to the need
for exigent community caretaking and why this civil custody justified force for life-saving
purposes.
The individual may be as functioning and normal as most other than the ingesting of
bath salts.
He or she may have incredible hallucinations as well as superhuman strength while
under the influence of bath salts.
Use an Electronic Control Device (commonly this will be called a TASER) if available to
quickly immobilize the subject.
Officers should be prepared for the TASER to fail due to the subject’s ability to
overcome the NMD by the TASER’s current.
Officers should move in the moment the subject is under power and immobilized,
seizing and immobilizing upper limbs and legs.
The use of officer’s body weight may be the only practical method in controlling the
subject in order to get his hands cuffed.
Restrain the subject as quickly as possible in handcuffs. The longer the struggle to
restrain the subject, the more likely he or she will die in police custody.
Notify paramedics to respond from their staged position as quickly as possible.
Transfer custody as quickly as possible to paramedics.
Document the efforts as thoroughly as possible for possible lawsuit whether or not the
subject dies in custody (excited delirium).
Plaintiffs’ Theory: Since this is a civil medical distress call, any force suitable to a criminal
arrest whatsoever may be unreasonable and excessive.
Because the only way to physically contain the subject may well be through body
weight, officers will be accused of ‘compression asphyxia’ if the subject dies. Officers’
reports indicate i.e.: ‘stopped breathing several minutes following the officer’s completecessation of force and body weight.’
Suicidality is considered high among those ‘coming down’ from the effects of bath salts’
so be aware of possible attempts as ‘suicide-by-cop’.
Synthetic Marijuana
The other ‘phenomenon’ which officers need be aware of is synthetic marijuana. It can
be snorted or smoked, tries to mimic the effects of marijuana, doesn’t seemingly cause the
violent reactions that bath salts can, but Sgt. Tim Ware says the affects can and likely still will be
the racing heart rate, sweating profusely, breathing problems, coughing, and chest pains. It isn’t
known whether synthetic marijuana causes the possible violence and aggression that bath salts
do because they are too new to know for sure. The chemicals used are research chemicals and
not meant for human consumption. It can be smoked or snorted and looks like ground parsley
or marijuana.
Interestingly, synthetic marijuana costs more than the real deal. It is often packaged as
‘spice’ or ‘incense’. Users can buy a 1 or 3 gram packet and since you can buy it in a store many
people feel it is legal (though it may not be) and so are willing to pay a higher price—not only
with their money but also with their safety. The only way to stay on top of this threat is realize
that education is the key—and the king.
Law enforcement is working on coming up with field tests to test users suspected of
ingesting bath salts or synthetic marijuana. It’s just a matter of catching up with the chemistry
of these new elusive drugs.
QUESTIONS
1. Have you yet had any experience with a subject high on bath salts? What happened?
2. Since the reactions to bath salts and synthetic marijuana can be varied and, often,
violent have you considered ‘what if’ scenarios with your partner? If not, why not?
3. Do you agree accurate reporting of your response could be crucial later in court?
4. Did it make sense to you that an officer’s body weight may be the only way to physically
contain a highly-agitated and/or violent subject high on bath salts?
5. Did it also make sense to you that these calls should be considered ‘medical responses’
and that EMS should be staged nearby as quickly as possible?
6. How often have you practiced ratcheting up the force continuum in the event the TASER
or baton have no effect on a subject you are trying to control?
7. Are you prepared to be hit, perhaps multiple times, and stay in the fight?
8. Are you physically fit enough to stay in a violent confrontation for more than a few
seconds? If not, why not?
9. What have you learned from past experiences about trying to contain and cuff violently
resisting subjects?
10. What would you tell other younger officers about those experiences?
11. Have you ever done role playing with subjects who were instructed to resist your efforts
at handcuffing them?
12. Or subjects who were instructed to violently resist your efforts?
13. Since verbal communication is quite apparently not an option with those high on bath
salts, what are your options if you are alone and back-up is several minutes away?
14. Have you seriously considered at what point lethal force may be a necessity?
15. If you saw a naked subject acting out violently and totally ignoring your commands on
your next shift, what would you do?Key Points for Review
What continues to perplex law enforcement is the reaction of users, which can be
almost immediate, violent, and extremely dangerous to first responders.
Therefore, treat it as any bizarre behavior call and have back-up and alert E.M.S. to
standby.
Because of the ‘superhuman’ strength bath salts ingesters may have, the TASER or
electric control device may fail.
Be prepared to go hands-on and use your body weight to immobilize.
Get subject contained/cuffed as quickly as possible, and be aware you will need to
carefully document your response due to possible litigation later.
Get body weight off as soon as possible, document that subject was breathing and had
respiration afterwards.
Do ‘what if scenarios’ and ‘what if plans’ in the event you have to deal with a violent
bath salts ingester.
Epilog
It’s been estimated that the market for bath salts, synthetic marijuana, and coke is
between $5-$7 billion annually. Reportedly, some store owners are reaping as much as $50,000
A DAY selling products like ‘bath salts’, ‘spice herbal incense’, ‘iAroma’, ’plant food’, ’and ‘water
pipe cleaner’. One ‘head’ shop in Duluth, MN is estimated to be doing $6 million a year in fake
drugs, with people lined up around the block before the establishment is even opened.
Although the DEA has temporarily banned some of the chemicals found in synthetic
marijuana and the President has signed into law a measure that bans the sale, production, and
possession of many of the chemicals found in the most popular synthetic drugs, there are still
an estimated 100 different bath salt chemicals circulation.
And just like that, illicit monies made at dogfights, cockfights, the profits in manufacturing,
distributing, and retailing these drugs, often directly to teenagers, are enormous. Not long
before this production, the DEA seized some $36M in cash during a nationwide crackdown on
synthetic drugs. Interestingly, as DEA spokesman said: many of those arrested had extensive
criminal histories. But quote: “we also found a number of people who are new to the drug
business and have been able to make connections with some of the more seasoned
traffickers…”Volume 14 Program 6
LESSON PLAN
SYNOPSIS: In this program we interview Sgt. Tim Ware with the St. Louis County Police
Department and learn about bath salts: ingredients, dangers to users and law enforcement as
well as ways to properly respond to those acting out violently as a result of a bad reaction to
bath salts or synthetic marijuana.
Time: 25 Minutes
Objectives: Upon completion of this course officers should:
Obj. A: Be familiar with what bath salts are.
Obj. B: Know the dangers of bath salts and synthetic marijuana.
Obj. C: Be able to talk about safety and protocol for dealing with those high on
bath salts .
INSTRUCTOR’S NOTES/LAB GUIDE
Obj. A: What are Bath Salts?
1. A synthetic drug manufactured to give a similar high as to that of
methamphetamines.
2. They are often made using legal chemicals and therefore the drug is being
sold legally in places like gas stations and convenience stores.
3. The chemicals used are always changing slightly (analogs) to mimic
controlled substances yet not be illegal.
Obj. B: What are the specific dangers of bath salts and synthetic marijuana to both
users and law enforcement?
1. Substances and chemicals going into each batch are research chemicals, and
though legal, are definitely not meant for human consumption. Because of
this we have no idea what these are doing to users’ bodies and minds or the
long term damage that is being done.
2. ‘Creeping high’ makes it very easy to overdose on bath salts. Medically, if a
user overdoses and goes to the emergency room the staff may not know
exactly how to treat the issue because of the unknown ingredients in the
drugs.
3. For law enforcement it is important to remember that because these drugs
have such a variety of ingredients and because these ingredients are so new
there is still no certain understanding how each individual will react—and
some have reacted in extremely violent and dangerous ways. Always be onyour guard if you suspect the individual has ingested bath salts or another
synthetic drug.
4. As of this production, there are no blood tests or anything of the kind to
detect exactly what the individual has ingested.
5. Officers probably won’t know exactly what users have ingested and almost
certainly won’t know how users could react.
6. Remember, he or she may have incredible hallucinations as well as
superhuman strength while under the influence of bath salts.
Obj. C: What are guidelines for dealing with a bath salts user (highlights):
1. Because it is similar to an adverse reaction to methamphetamines, officers
should respond in the same manner as that of any bizarre behavior call.
2. Always call in back-up and have paramedics stage nearby if you suspect the
individual is under the influence of bath salts.
3. The faster subjects under the influence of bath salts can be controlled the
better
4. Be prepared to go hands-on and use your body weight to immobilize.
5. Use a TASER if available but be prepared for it to fail. Often in these cases it
has been noted that the TASER has no effect on the users.
6. Document the efforts as thoroughly as possible for possible lawsuit
whether or not the subject dies in custody (excited delirium).You can also read
