OWEN SOUND - Police are warning people to stay away from a designer drug known as "bath salts" that has been showing up in the Owen Sound area.
The substance is blamed for sending at least five people to hospital over the last week.
Police say they seized about 142 grams of suspected bath salts at a residence on Monday while executing a search warrant.
The substance is being sent to Health Canada for analysis.
Det. Sgt. Mark Kielb says that since bath salts are not regulated in Canada, police cannot charge someone who has them with drug possession.
But he says the makeup of the substance varies and some ingredients could be illegal -- so they will continue to test the substance when it's seized.
The synthetic stimulant -- also known as MDPV -- is described as a powdery substance with some effects similar to methamphetamine and some similar to ecstasy.
Side effects of the drug can include severe hallucinations, paranoia, violent behaviour, elevated heart rate, sweating, hypertension and suicidal thoughts.
A .22-calibre rifle, ammunition, drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of marijuana and codeine were also seized during Monday's raid.
The male resident was not home at the time and police are seeking a warrant for his arrest.
