Meehan Calls on Senate to Pass Nationwide Ban on Synthetic Drugs

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today hosted a discussion with education, healthcare and law enforcement professionals on synthetic drugs, commonly sold as "bath salts", which are reportedly on the rise in many Southeastern Pennsylvania high schools.

"Synthetic drugs like bath salts are extremely dangerous yet easily available and sold online," said Meehan. "I'm greatly concerned by the reports of a rise in synthetic drug use in our local high schools. That's why I called this urgent meeting. Today we had a productive discussion about ways we can fight the spread of synthetic drug use and educate students and parents about the dangers of these drugs. An important step would be for the U.S. Senate to pass the Synthetic Drug Control Act as soon as possible."

Although synthetic drugs such as bath salts were recently made illegal in Pennsylvania last year, they remain legal in many other states making it easy to purchase them online. In December, the House of Representatives passed the Synthetic Drug Control Act (H.R. 1254), a bill introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) but the bill is awaiting action by the Senate. Meehan, a cosponsor of H.R. 1254, today called on the Senate to pass the bill which will ban these drugs nationwide.

Also joining today's discussion were representatives from: Upper Merion School District; Upper Merion Township Police Department; Community Alliance for a Safer Tomorrow for Upper Merion School District; Montgomery County Health Department, Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol, and Gaudenzia, Inc., an addiction treatment and recovery center located in Montgomery County.

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