Teen, 2 others charged after injecting bath salts into their arms, sheriff says | Crime

IREDELL COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says a teen and two others are facing a string of charges after they were caught injecting bath salts into their arms.

According to Iredell County Sheriff Phil Redmond, deputies were called out to the end of East Barkley Road on Saturday to conduct a security check. When deputies arrived, they found a vehicle with its lights turned on, trying to leave the road.

Deputies stopped the car, and found numerous items of drug paraphernalia inside.

Taylor Ryan Evans, 18; Rudy Delacruz, 20; and Gregory David Evans Jr., 20; told deputies they were injecting bath salts into their arms.

Deputies noted the teens were "very nervous and seemed to be very impaired."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, poison control centers representing 45 states and the District of Columbia reported receiving telephone calls related to "bath salts" in 2011. As of April, these centers had already received five times the number of "bath salts" calls in 2011 than in all of 2010.

The CDC says people are smoking, snorting and injecting the bath salts as a way to get a legal high.

"Bath Salts [have] not yet become illegal, but [are] a very dangerous item that is being abused as a drug," Sheriff Redmond said.

The scientific name for the active compound in bath salts is methylenedioxypyrovalerone, a synthetic derived from a plant called a cathione. Once in the body, it delivers the effects of LSD, ecstasy, and cocaine all in one.

"[People] crave for it and can't get away from it," said Dr. Ben Gottschalk, the medical director of Wilmington Treatment Center. "I've seen people with marks all up their arms because they couldn't stop shooting it."

Related article: Bath salts suspected in NC woman's death

The salt alters the levels of neurotransmitters, or brain chemicals. Once the chemicals start to surge, users get a feeling of energy and empathy. If used repeatedly, the brain becomes depleted of neurotransmitters and a deep feeling of depression and paranoia sets in.

According to Gottschalk, these products are made in underground labs and manufacturers are constantly developing new designer drugs to stay ahead of lawmakers and drug regulators.

Deputies say they also found a marijuana pipe on Rudy Delacruz and a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol inside the vehicle. Delacruz faces charges for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and allowing a unlicensed driver operate his vehicle.

Evans was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, and Evans was charged with driving while licensed revoked.

All three were released into the custody of adults.