Residents Relieved by 'Bath Salt' Ban

The New Jersey State Senate unanimously approved a measure criminalizing six chemicals used to create a methamphetamine-style drug known as "bath salts" Thursday. Cranford residents greeted the vote with expressions of relief and support.

“I think that’s great,” resident Carmela Williams said. “I don’t want kids to get high on certain drugs, I’ve got grandchildren. ... Drugs have so many terrible effects, they’ll drag you down.”

The powerful salts can cause severe psychotic episodes and gained prominence in Cranford and surrounding communities in March when Rutgers senior Pamela Schmidt was killed in the basement of her Cranford boyfriend's home. Her alleged killer, William Parisio, may have been under the influence of bath salts at the time of the incident. Authorities did not confirm, however, whether Parisio was under the influence of bath salts when Schmidt was killed.

Parisio’s mother Diane, who could not be reached for comment, told the Courier News in March that she did not intend to assist in her son's legal defense and that he could never come back to the family house because of his decision to take bath salts.

to first-degree homicide shortly following his arrest. The episode shocked the community, with many residents stating they were unaware of the drugs' existence. Though tragic, the incident shed light on a common, easily obtainable drug, previously sold in grocery and convenience stores until state Attorney General Paula Dow issued a temporary ban in April. The drug was packaged in brightly colored packets, often with what many perceived to be kid-friendly cartoons on the label. Users experience symptoms of extreme anxiety, paranoia, violent outbursts and suicidal thoughts. Bath salt-related police emergencies jumped from 302 reported calls in 2010 to 1,500 calls within the first three months of 2011.

Dow's temporary ban became a bill that cleared the state Senate this week. A similar bill in the Assembly is currently being considered in committee. Named for the Rutger's student, Pamela's Law criminalizes the possession, sale or distribution of the chemicals used to create bath salts. The legislation calls for a maximum of 10 years in prison for those caught with more than an ounce of the chemicals.

Cranford residents said they believe that Pamela's Law, if ultimately approved by the Assembly and enacted by the governor, would help create a safer community.

“I think it’s really a wise thing,” resident Ron Czebrowski said. “I was really not that familiar with what was going on with younger people and experimenting with a lot of different things. I think we were all made more aware by the incident, and I think it just makes you feel that something is being done. We’re not just turning a blind eye and saying, ‘Oh, well it was just something that happened and it’s not going to happen again,’ because it certainly could.”

Cranford resident Theresa Politano agreed. “It’s absolutely the right thing to do,” she said. “The stories that I’ve read about bath salts are scary. There’s absolutely no reason for them to be on the market and be sold. People sort of pretend that they’re not being used the way they’re being used. When kids are dying and getting high off of things they can buy in the drug store, that’s wrong.”

Bill Ilaria, Chair of the Cranford Municipal Alliance, detailing the dangers and consequences of legal highs last month. The Alliance’s goal is to prevent drug and alcohol abuse within the town, with heavy focus directed on teen drinking, which members said they believe leads to more serious drug abuse. Ilaria argued that the bills represented a step in the right direction toward alcohol and drug prevention.

“I think it’s terrific that the legislature is taking a hard stance on it,” he said. “I think a unified approach by all leaders in the community, which the Municipal Alliance is helping to orchestrate, to prevent kids in town from starting down the path of alcohol and drug abuse is needed.”

Many residents, however, remain unaware of bath salts and their dangerous effects. Resident Bernice Farbanec admitted to “forgetting” about the drugs.

“I really don’t know anything about them,” she said. “If I did it’s been a while ago. It seems like it’s been forgotten.”