CLARENDON, Vt. -
Bath salts claimed a life in Vermont.
Bath salts are a synthetic, pseudo-legal methamphetamine substitute.
The state's chief medical examiner found that bath salts killed Christopher Tsacoyeanes, 28, in Clarendon last month.
The designer drugs are available in convenience stores and head shops in some states. Just eight days ago, Vermont took emergency action to ban more than 80 different forms of bath salts and synthetic marijuana.
Vt. Health Commissioner Harry Chen says the meth substitute is highly addictive.
"It's a powerful stimulant. It can cause very bad side effects: hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal behaviors, seizures and death. And we believe this one represents our first bath salts death," Dr. Chen said.
"We know that the drug landscape across the country is changing and Vermont is not immune from this, we know that bath salts are here now, we know they're present in Vermont, and we've now seen the devastating effects they can have on an individual," said Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn.
Health officials say not enough is known about bath salts yet because it's not a regulated chemical. They say the product is marketed toward teenagers and Chen worries friends of users could be pressured into use without knowing the consequences.
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File photo of bath salts
