Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

Hearing on "Dangerous Synthetic Drugs"

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Prepared Statement of

Co-Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Madam Chairman, it's been over two years since this caucus held its first hearing on synthetic drug abuse.  At that hearing, we heard testimony from a constituent of mine named Michael Rozga.  Mr. Rozga's son David committed suicide shortly after smoking "K2."  "K2" is synthetic marijuana that is very different from the naturally occurring plant.  David had legally purchased this synthetic drug at a local shopping mall.  He then had a very rapid and negative reaction to it.  I said then that David may have been the first person in the United States to die from using this kind of synthetic drug, but surely he wouldn't be the last.

Sadly, my concerns were validated, as the abuse of synthetic drugs continued to escalate.  From 2010 to 2011, the number of calls received by poison control centers related to synthetic marijuana increased from 2,906 to 6,959.  And similar calls about the synthetic drugs known as "bath salts" increased from 304 to 6,138.  Emergency room visits associated with these synthetic drugs rose sharply as well.

In 2012, Congress responded to this crisis.  I worked with you, Madam Chairman, as well as Senators Schumer, Klobuchar and many others, to pass the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012.  That legislation placed many of these synthetic drugs on Schedule I, making them illegal.  That was an important step to help protect our young people from the effects of these drugs.

There is some evidence that that legislation had a positive effect.  In 2012, calls to poison control centers related to synthetic marijuana dropped from 6,959 to 5,205.  Similar calls related to "bath salts" dropped from 6,138 to 2,657.

But new synthetic drugs have emerged since we passed that legislation.  Traffickers need only to alter the chemical structure of their drugs to effectively circumvent the law.  And these drugs continue to ruin lives in communities across the country.

In just the past few weeks, news reports have linked a synthetic form of ecstasy called "Molly" to the deaths of at least four young people in Boston, New York, and here in Washington.  What seems especially concerning is that authorities may not yet have a clear understanding of precisely what substances are contained in "Molly."  Regardless of its precise chemical makeup, there appears little doubt that "Molly" is a clear and present threat to the health and safety of our young people.

My home state of Iowa also continues to be affected by synthetic drugs.   On a single weekend last May, three teenagers in the Des Moines area were sent to emergency rooms after smoking synthetic marijuana.  One of them reportedly suffered cardiac arrest.

There is some good news, however.  In communities across the country, citizens are helping to sound the alarm about the dangers of synthetic drugs.

The Rozga family continues to share David's story.  They have also started a website, K2drugfacts.com, which provides a forum for folks who've survived encounters with synthetic drugs to share their stories.

A community group called "Iowans Against Synthetics" has successfully pushed to have this week declared "Synthetic Drugs Awareness Week" in Johnson County, Iowa.

The Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy has also taken steps to raise awareness about emerging drug trends such as synthetics.  Beginning this month, the office is issuing a monthly newsletter called The Connection. The newsletter will publish the latest news about new drugs in Iowa and trends among young people.

As we recognize World Rabies Day on September 28, we are reminded that our furry feline friends  -- cats -- are a serious rabies risk.  While that may be surprising to some, the fact is that cats remain the top carrier of rabies among domestic animals in the United States. The number of rabid dogs has declined by 37% since 1999?according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?but the number of reported rabid cats has actually increased and now surpasses dogs by a ratio of over 4 to 1.

Wild animals?such as raccoons?still harbor rabies far more frequently than cats. However, a study published this year by researchers from the CDC stated that "cats pose a disproportionate risk for potential human exposures compared with wildlife...in part because people, especially children, are more likely to approach them."

It is critical to vaccinate all domestic cats for rabies and keep those vaccinations current, but any cat that roams outdoors is at a much higher risk of contracting rabies than cats kept safely indoors. Feral cats, in particular, present a major public health risk. Feral cats are outdoors all the time, and the management of feral cat colonies through Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) programs "[does] not provide effective rabies vaccination coverage or cat population control," according to the CDC-led study. On the contrary, TNR only increases the likelihood of interaction between feral cats and rabid wildlife.

In honor of World Rabies Day and for public health, we must recognize the risks posed by domestic cats roaming outdoors and effectively protect communities by removing feral cats from the landscape.

Dr. George Fenwick

President, American Bird Conservancy

1731 Conn. Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20009

More than ever, people understand that our bodies just weren't designed to handle the amount of processed flour found in many of today's food.

Some people with vague, undiagnosed illnesses feel better after cutting out gluten, a protein in flour-based foods. Many Americans, including professional athletes and celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel and men's tennis leader Djovak Nokovic, say they look and perform better since dropping gluten from their diets.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people who commit to a gluten-free lifestyle believe they have to sacrifice their favorite desserts, because gluten-free treats are often loaded with sugar but low on flavor," says Kyra Bussanich, (www.kyrasbakeshop.com), author of a new, full-color recipe book, "Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle" (Ten Speed Press; Random House, Inc.)

Bussanich's gluten-free cupcakes twice bested their floury competition on "Cupcake Wars" (2011 and 2012) and were a runner-up for the show's Cupcake Champion. She shares her secrets in recipes such as Mexican Chocolate Baked Alaska, Persian Love Cakes with Cardamom Buttercream and Vanilla Chiffon Cake with Blackberry Coulis.

After suffering a life-threatening illness at 20, Bussanich recovered with the help of a new diet without gluten. She began testing gluten-free recipes while attending the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu patisserie program and later opened her popular business, Kyra's Bake Shop.

"My recipes are not good 'for being gluten-free;' they're just good, and that's why people who eat gluten visit my bakery and order gluten-free desserts," she says. "For me, being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease allowed me to turn lemons into gluten-free lemon meringue pie!"

She invites anyone who doubts that gluten-free can be delicious to try the following recipe:

Apple Crisp

6 large tart apples (Pippin or Granny Smith)
1/3 cup sugar, or 1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons tapioca starch
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Generous pinch salt
3 tablespoons cold butter

Topping

1/2 cup sweet white rice flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup gluten-free oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/4-inch slices. Put the apple slices into a large bowl and sprinkle the sugar over the top. Add the tapioca starch, cinnamon, five-spice, ginger and salt and toss together to evenly coat the apple slices. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking pan, dot the top with pieces of the butter and set aside. To make the topping, combine the flours, tapioca starch, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, five-spice and ginger in a mixing bowl. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix in the butter until it is uniformly incorporated into the flour mixture. Stir in the oats and pecans.

Crumble the oat topping evenly over the apples. Bake until the topping is golden brown and set and the apples are warm and bubbly, 55 to 60 minutes.
You can prepare everything ahead of time. Refrigerate the apple filling and keep the topping frozen until ready to assemble and bake. Don't refrigerate the unbaked topping overnight since the millet flour will interact with the butter and taste and smell cheesy when it's baked.

About Kyra Bussanich

Kyra Bussanich is a two-time winner of The Food Network's hit show, "Cupcake Wars." She graduated with honors from Le Cordon Bleu and opened her award-winning bakery, Kyra's Bake Shop, which features gourmet, gluten-free sweets. She has branched beyond desserts to other gluten-free goods in order to help those with celiac and other autoimmune diseases enjoy quality treats.