It’s a new law, but it may already be working. New drugs like bath salts and potpourri have put many people in the hospital the past several months...some have died. Kansas lawmakers recently passed a law making the drugs illegal.
“We were pretty much the epicenter in Kansas", says Salina police Chief James Hill.
At its worst Salina was the self-described hot bed of drug action. This past winter, a Kansas University student ran into highway traffic in Salina and was killed. Elijah Taylor had bath salts in his system at the time of the incident.
A few weeks later a downtown business known as “The Grind” was shut down for selling potpourri.
"I can tell you today Salina is a much safer community when it comes to these drugs then it was last December," added Chief Hill.
While the market maybe closing in on these drugs…it is not closed all together. Officials won't say how many places are still selling bath salts and potpourri. They do know however their mainstream use has be cut down in a big way.
"That’s not to say their isn’t an underground way for people to find the product," says drug taskforce specialist Jim Norton.
Emergency room visits caused by potpourri and bath salts use is down as well. Law enforcement officials say they feel confident their push is paying off. Now that each substance is illegal awareness is at an all time high.
Police say their biggest battle right now is on the internet. Certain web sites are still selling and shipping the drugs.
