Political Quotes

“today I rise to join my colleagues, Senator Klobuchar and Senator Grassley, to discuss an epidemic overtaking our country: synthetic drugs. I wish to compliment both of my colleagues. Each of us has been working on this issue in different ways, and we combined our three approaches into one piece of legislation that will go a long way toward helping to keep our kids away from drugs they should not have. Synthetic drugs are an epidemic overtaking our country. They are also known as bath salts or, in the case of manmade marijuana, spice or incense. They are given innocent names, but they are deadly. Synthetic drugs are not sold on street corners by slingers who keep stashes hidden in alleys. Instead, these drugs can be found in local corner stores across the country. They are as easy to buy as a lollipop or a carton of milk, but they are much more dangerous. No wonder emergency rooms and poison control centers have seen an enormous rise in patients who have taken these drugs and must seek help. The numbers are nothing short of eye-popping. Poison control centers reported 13 calls concerning these products in 2009, over 1,000 calls in 2010, and over 6,500 in 2011--from 13 calls to over 6,500 calls in 2 years. For every call they get, there are many people taking these drugs with no call at all. One survey, in fact, indicates that one in nine high school seniors used synthetic drugs in the past year. That is a frightening, astounding, and devastating number.…”