Authorities warn of new designer drug in Dubois County
Gravel, a designer drug, and heroin are becoming a threat to Dubois County, according to Sheriff Donny Lampert.
Law enforcement has seen some cases involving heroin and it seems to have a crossover from certain prescription narcotics, according to County Drug Officer John Anderson.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was recently found dead of an apparent heroin overdose.
Regarding Gravel, authorities have not found it in the county yet but it is increasing in popularity and spreading.
Gravel — alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone — is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant similar to bath salts. On January 28, 2014, the DEA listed it, along with 9 other synthetic catinones, on the Schedule 1 with a temporary ban, effective February 27, 2014.
According to a release through the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a drug enforcement task force, Gravel is being sent through normal shipping methods and has been found disguised in packages labeled as plant fertilizer.
Gravel appears in the form of small rocks or pieces of salt and can be injected or smoked. The side effects of Gravel include increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate, violence, paranoia, hallucinations, and brain damage. Gravel is known to cause rapid tissue deterioration around the area of injections sites and can result in gaping holes in the body tissue that can be inches deep.
Several packages of the drug were seized in Tennessee during a traffic stop.
In a release Sheriff Lampert stated, “we as a community need to study the signs and effects of these drugs and their impact on the community.”
The sheriff’s department is asking that anyone who suspects an individual is under the influence or in possession of these drugs to contact the department at 482-3522. Callers may remain anonymous.
wow people are so unhappy these days they are just injecting themselves with ANYTHING not to have to be sober. I hate to see what life is going to be like in another 50 years?