WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo signed legislation that will expand the ban on the type of chemicals used to make dangerous bath salts. The law comes after several high-profile deaths in New York City this summer involving the synthetic drugs.  The state Legislature in June passed a bill that adds new compounds used to make synthetic drugs to the state’s banned substance list.  The governor last year issued an executive order to ban the sale and possession of synthetic drugs under the state’s public health law.

The husband of a Pennsylvania woman found dead back in July is now charged with involuntary manslaughter. Scott Kunkle, 29, of Monroe Twp., is charged with aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, 28-year-old Patricia Kunkle, in July after Pennsylvania State Police responded to a domestic dispute at the couple's home. An autopsy at Lourdes Hospital ruled Patricia's death a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and internal injuries. Toxicology reports showed the presence of bath salts in Patricia's system. Kunkle was originally arrested for simple assault and reckless endangerment before those charges were withdrawn Monday morning by the Bradford County District Attorney. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Teen drug use continues to be problematic with new drugs like synthetic marijuana, bath salts, & “Mollies” joining substances like heroin, prescription pain pills, stimulants, cocaine & stronger grades of marijuana in the last year.  Dave Ramsey is the Executive Director of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County; he mentions some of the changed behaviors that teens may exhibit when they experiment with these drugs:

(Dave Ramsey 6-27-13)

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced 150 arrests yesterday of those who were involved in trafficking bath salts and synthetic marijuana here, DEA officials said that the added problem is that the money from the sale of these drugs goes to the Middle East and the often goes to suspected terrorists groups.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has won litigation against retailers selling deceptively labeled designer drugs. The Supreme Court decision holds business owner John Tebbetts responsible for selling deceptively labeled drug products to consumers from his 8 upstate head shops, & for denying that the products were meant for human consumption.    Schneidermann’s lawsuit attempted to stop the sale of “Bath Salts” and “Synthetic Marijuana” in violation of the state's labeling laws.