BILL NUMBER:  S816

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to designating
alpha-PVP as a schedule I stimulant controlled substance

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To prohibit the sale or distribution of any product containing
alpha-PVP, also known as Flakka, also known as gravel

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one subdivision (f) of schedule I of section 3306 of the
public health law is amended by adding a new paragraph 25

Section two sets forth the effective date

 JUSTIFICATION :

Many recent news reports have brought to light the use of a new drug
similar to bath salts and methamphetamine called Flakka or Gravel. It
is one of the newer chemicals in the synthetic or designer drug
category, made from a compound called alpha-PVP, a chemical cousin of
cathinone, the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. People who
              

use these drugs experience powerful reactions and often violent
behavior. Side effects can include: nausea, vomiting, paranoia,
hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, seizures, chest pains,
and increased blood pressure and heart rate.

In July 2011, S3322B/Chapter 130 banned the sale or distribution of
any product containing Mephedrone and MDPV which were marketed as
"bath salts." While this criminalized the sale of "bath salt" products
containing Mephedrone and MDPV, a practice of making minor alterations
to chemicals to subvert statutes that prohibit distinct chemicals made
it possible for slightly altered products to continue to be sold in
New York state. In September 2013, a new law S3469A/Chapter 341 was
signed adding more chemical compounds - the type of compounds used to
make these bath salt drugs - to the state's banned substances list.
The law imposes criminal penalties on those who sell, use and/or
possess these drugs, and also Makes it a felony to sell the substances
to a minor or on school grounds.

Drug makers and suppliers have a practice of making minor alterations
to chemicals to subvert statutes that prohibit distinct chemicals,
making it possible for slightly altered products to continue to be
sold in New York state unless new legislation is passed adding the
compound to the illegal substance schedules. Flakka, also known around
the country as "gravel" can be snorted, smoke, injected or swallowed,
or can be combined with other drugs, such as marijuana. Like cocaine
and meth, Flakka comes with a comedown, often resulting in users
returning to the drug to get rid of the negative comedown feeling,
jump-starting a cycle of use that can lead to abuse. It may alter
brain chemistry in a way that makes users require a larger and larger
dose to get the same high. At high doses, Flakka may also cause the
body to reach high temperatures which may lead to severe physical
complications like kidney damage and muscle breakdown.

Excessive use of this drug has been linked with feelings of extreme
anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. Most recently in Florida, there
has been an instance of a man high on Flakka kicking in a door at a
police station while in a separate instance a man impaled himself on a
police fence when he tried to scale it. Since suppliers continue to
create more drugs with slightly different properties to skirt the

definition of what is illegal, New York State needs to add Flakka or
Gravel to the illegal substances schedules.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.4743/A.7336 of 2015-2016; Passed Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law