NORTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – The Northampton Board of Health took action tonight in addressing the public health risks associated with synthetic drugs being sold in the city.

A public hearing was held virtually Thursday night on a proposed regulation that would prohibit the local sale synthetically derived cannabinoids and kratom.

The meeting was set to take place on zoom at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The hearing comes after the board of health unanimously voted to draft a regulation prohibiting the sale of these synthetic drugs back in July.

Under the proposed regulation, the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of synthetically derived cannabinoids or kratom products will be prohibited within the city with violations of the regulation resulting in fines and even the possible suspension of board of health permits.

Western Mass News spoke with Dr. Kenneth Richmond, Medical Director at Miravista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke. He explained that sometimes these types of synthetic drugs can result in more potent, unpredictable, and dangerous effects than their natural counterparts, “depression can happen, anxious distress can happen, respiratory issues which suppresses our ability to breathe which is similar to what would happen with somebody overdosing on heroin.”

Dr. Richmond told us because these drugs like synthetic kratom are unregulated, people are likely to be more liberal with the amount of the substance they’re using, putting them at more of a risk for those unwanted side effects.

He also told us Miravista offers inpatient and outpatient care for anyone dealing with withdrawal symptoms from these drugs.

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