New York's senior senator is prodding federal regulators to add new synthetic drugs to a list of banned substances, warning that these legal concoctions pose a major threat to minors.
Charles Schumer trekked to Batavia Monday where he met with educators, law enforcers and substance abuse prevention advocates. WBFO was on assignment at Batavia High School where officials highlighted the threat posed by synthetic drugs.
Drug makers have have been getting around the law by packaging and selling new combinations of synthetic drugs that are not currently on a list of banned substances, officials said.
"When a new type of drug rears its ugly head, we can't wait," Schumer told reporters.
One such substance is being as "Cloud 9." But the name doesn't tell the whole story. Experts insist the substance can cause panic attacks, hallucinations and even seizures. Recently, four Batavia High School students were rushed to an emergency room after they smoked the substance.
Scott Wilson, the school's principal, said he believes "only a handful" of students have experimented with synthetic drugs. But Schumer said the key is to make sure proactive steps are taken so use of such drugs doesn't hit "epidemic" levels.
The senator said he believes the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration must move more swiftly to add newly-created synthetic drugs to a list of banned hazardous substances. Schumer said he helped pass legislation three years ago that gave the DEA enhanced authority to ban new synthetic drugs. The agency is currently researching about 300 compounds to determine whether they should be added to the list.
"More and more kids are ending up in the emergency room, and it is time for federal law to catch up," Schumer said.