Bath Salts Still Sold Over The Counter

There is shocking new information Friday as the Montgomery County Crime Lab said the number of deaths related to bath salts is becoming more prominent.

A News Center 7 special investigation in May uncovered several stores selling bath salts over the counter. Sales of the substance are still continuing at one at least one of those shops, and a crew found the substance being sold at a new location.

The salts were not displayed at the store front, but a clerk had bath salts available by request behind the checkout counter.

Now, News Center 7 has discovered that bath salts are likely to blame for five deaths and seven other OVI accidents.

Bath salts are a legal street drugs that cause hallucinations. Doctors at the crime lab and the coroner's office said they have seen 12 cases directly related to bath salt abuse in recent weeks.

Doctors said it's becoming a serious issue that has to stop.

Dr. Kent Harshbarger with the coroner's office said, "We have confirmed three bath salts-related deaths."

In all the cases, the moments before death are similar.

"They can no longer control their behaviors and then either cause harm to themselves by driving a vehicle or in that violent struggle cause harm to themselves that leads to death," Harshbarger said.

Experts said the high from the drug can drive an adrenaline-fueled aggression and can lead to various deadly behaviors.

"Two are fatalities while driving, one is a direct overdose and two are more behavior-related," Harshbarger said referring to some of the recent deaths.

It's a trend that is becoming a real issue in the Miami Valley.

"It's a severe threat, at least to the community, and the awareness needs to be amplified," Harshbarger said.

Harshbarger said since it is sold over the counter, he said he believes that the perception is it's available.