Synthetic drugs in evidence bags are seen during a press conference at DEA Headquarters on June 26, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia.; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is cracking down on synthetic drugs.
Thursday, federal agents concluded a year-long operation to combat the manufacturing and distribution of synthetic drugs, arresting a total of 151 people in 16 states since July 2014. The DEA has been closely tracking synthetic drugs, like bath salts, Spice and Molly, since they gained popularity in 2010.
But what exactly are these drugs? How are they made? And who is buying them?
Guests:
Marilyn Huestis, the chief of a research division at the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Bill Piper, director of national affairs in Washington, D.C. for Drug Policy Alliance