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Synthetic drugs targeted by Iowa campaign

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May 8th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials have launched a public education campaign to warn teenagers and their parents about the growing problem of synthetic drugs.

Examples of synthetic drugs

Officials representing law enforcement, public health and drug control policy unveiled the campaign on Monday in Des Moines. The Speak Out Against Synthetic Drugs campaign will provide public-service messages that could help adults talk to children about synthetic drugs and the dangers they pose. On Monday the state Senate passed a bill aimed at making it tough for manufacturers of the illegal, synthetic drugs to alter ingredients to get around Iowa laws. Last year the Legislature passed a law making several chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana and “bath salts” illegal, but manufacturers keep altering the recipes with different chemicals to stay ahead of state bans.