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Law enforcement again trying to catch up to new synthetic drug outbreak

Ryan Delaney
/
WRVO News
Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler discussing a new outbreak of synthetic drugs in Syracuse.

Law enforcement and elected officials have again found themselves trying to keep ahead of an outbreak of synthetic drugs in central New York.

Local legislative action and federal law enforcement raids of area head shops three years ago quelled a rash of overdoses in upstate New York on synthetic drugs, often called bath salts.

But synthetic narcotics are back, with different chemical compounds and different names. The Syracuse area has treated 40 overdoses in the past month, 20 in Syracuse in the past week alone.

Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus), a former prosecutor, says drug makers are staying one step ahead of the government.

"The problem is, if they change the chemical composition at, you have to go back to the drawing board, get it back on the drug analog list and there’s a process, and it takes time," he said. 

Credit Ryan Delaney / WRVO
/
WRVO
Rep. John Katko discussing synthetic drug use.

Katko says he’s going to meet with the Drug Enforcement Administration this week to work on new legislation.

"And instead of trying to play a cat and mouse game all the time with these illicit manufacturers, we got to try and find a more global solution," said Katko.

He wants authorities to quickly be able to add new compounds to the list of illegal drugs.

Syracuse police say people are getting their hands on this synthetic marijuana through corner stores and drug dealers, often for about $10 a pack. Police Chief Frank Fowler says it’s too easy to get a hold of the drugs.

"A person walking in a buying a bag of this stuff, they have no idea what’s inside of it and the people that are making it, they’re just doing it to make money off of it," he said.

While it’s no longer possible to purchase synthetic drugs from a corner store shelf, Fowler says stores are still selling it illegally.

Legislative action to make the drugs illegal can have limited affect at times. Drug makers continually change the chemical makeup of their products to avoid the bans.