- April 25, 2024
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The city is taking proactive approach to synthetic drugs and hoping a ban will encourage the state to do the same.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
In an effort to lead the state legislature by example, the Ormond Beach City Commission will vote next month on an ordinance to ban the sale of synthetic drugs, and not just the chemicals used to produce them.
“We’ve known that it was out there — it wasn't a secret,” said Mayor Ed Kelley. “People were turning to those types of drugs and the damage from those synthetic things was more dangerous than the real stuff.”
Synthetic drugs are usually marketed as a safer alternative. They’re chemically produced to mimic or enhance the effects of natural drugs.
Side effects of synthetic drugs can include chest pains, elevated blood pressure, panic attacks, extreme paranoia and even sleep deprivation-induced psychosis.
The drugs are most popular among individuals under 25 years old, who, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, made up 60% of the 13,000 calls poison centers received in 2011 related to synthetic drugs, which was up from 2010 and the 3,200 related calls.
“It’s a relatively new substance out there,” said Lt. Kenny Hayes, of the Ormond Beach Police Department. “It’s just one more thing that people are potentially abusing. It’s not something that we want to have out here in the community. It’s one more substance that can cause harm or cause someone to do harm.”
Kelley said he hoped the city’s ban would play a role in the state legislature also taking a stance.
“They need to act and they need to make it such that you just don't ban the chemicals,” he said. “We didn't want to be the last ones to do this. We wanted to be ahead of the curve.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has already made it illegal to buy, sell or possess some of the chemicals most frequently found in synthetic marijuana.
“They’ll change the compound and put in a different chemical in there, which is not banned,” Kelley said during the Oct. 2 City Commission meeting. “So they’re selling the same thing, with a different genetic makeup.”
The ordinance’s first reading was unanimously approved by the commission. If the ordinance is passed on its second reading, the police department enforcement will include periodic checks of local businesses as well as responding to citizen complaints.
“We would expect that once the information is out there -- that it’s illegal to sell -- that we’ll get compliance,” Hayes said. “(Banning) it seems to be a growing trend with other agencies.”
Kelley also said he hopes a ban will raise awareness of the dangers and deter young people from experimenting with the drugs.
