State Rep. Sharon Tyler announced Thursday she is sponsoring legislation to ban a dangerous new designer drug sold as “bath salts,” which can create violent behavior in users. The Michigan Department of Community Health has issued warnings against using the drug.

“By allowing people to sell this, we are compromising public safety,” said Tyler, R-Niles. “We are seeing it more and more, and closer to home, including the recent case of the man who almost died in LaPorte, Ind. Combined with the rising number of cases around the state of Michigan and throughout the country, we need to stop this dangerous drug before it continues to spread.”

House Bill 4565 would add these synthetic chemicals to the list of controlled substances in the Michigan Public Health Code, making them illegal to possess.

Michigan emergency departments report that many of the people treated for using this drug in have been young adults in their 20s and 30s.

According to DCH, the so-called bath salts come in a crystalline powder and are sold across the country online, at head shops, convenience stores and on the street with names such as Ivory Wave, Aura, ZOOM 2, Zeus 2, Cosmic Blast and White Rush.

They are completely different than commercially manufactured bath salts for use in the bath tub and may contain a number of synthetic chemicals including methylmethcathinone or methlenedioxypyrovalerone (MDVP), both of which are strong stimulants that can cause increased heart rate, chest pains, dizziness, delusions, panic attacks, nose bleeding and nausea.

Patients ingesting these chemicals can be extremely paranoid and may not respond to usual calmatives.  Some have been involved in homicides and suicides while under the influence.  Many describe being chased by demons, gods, aliens or foreign soldiers. Severe cases may require long-term psychiatric care.

“Michigan is not the only state battling against this devastating drug,” Tyler said. “At least eight states including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Dakota have already outlawed the drugs, while many states, including Indiana, are considering similar action.”