Erie News Now | WICU & WSEE in Erie, PAErie's Law Enforcement Aware of Deadly New Synthetic Drug "Jewelry Cleaner"

Erie's Law Enforcement Aware of Deadly New Synthetic Drug "Jewelry Cleaner"

Local law enforcement is keeping a close eye on a deadly new synthetic drug, showing up across the country.

You've likely heard of synthetic pot, and synthetic heroin, known as Bath Salts.
Now "Jewelry Cleaner" is the latest synthetic drug to hit the streets.
"Jewelry Cleaner" is described as a fake cocaine, it's street name is Cosmic Blast.
It's a powdery substance that drug users ingest, snort, or even insert rectally.
It's said to cause a euphoric high, heightened alertness, and sexual stimulation.
The drug can cause a dangerous, and even deadly spike in body temperature.

Coroners across the Commonwealth are now made aware of it, as it's claiming lives in eastern Pennsylvania.
And the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, here in Erie says while it hasn't hit our area yet, they are keeping an eye on it.

"Where there's a demand, there's going to be a supply. There's supplies being made in clandestine laboratories. It's being made by individuals that are serving the drug community. They don't know what they're putting in their body. They might be putting rat poison, it isn't going to be the same chemicals all the time." Said the Director of the Attorney General's local Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Dennis Tobin.

"There's always something new coming along and it seems to becoming more and more dangerous. And this stuff is as bad as anything I've ever heard of. And I'm hoping it doesn't move this way." Said Erie County Coroner, Lyell Cook.

There is legislation banning Bath Salts.
If this "Jewelry Cleaner" starts to become a major problem, Tobin says they'll write up legislation making that illegal as well.