Use, possession of 'Bath Salts' forbidden Published June 15, 2012 By Nick Stubbs Thunderbolt editor MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The powerful mind bender known as Bath Salts may be available in some states and online, but any Airman worth his or her salt should know this dangerous substance is off limits under Air Force rules. Bath Salts, which is not to be confused with Epsom Salts or other substances added to bath water, more than qualify as a banned intoxicating substance, according to 6th Security Forces Squadron Det. Edward Garcia. It has been illegal in Florida for about a year. The substance made headlines recently when a man in south Florida reportedly under its influence ate the face off a homeless man before being shot and killed by police. It goes without saying, said Garcia, that any substance that could drive someone to those extremes in behavior falls under the unified Air Force policy (Air Force Instruction 44-121) banning any substance that alters mood or causes a "high" other than alcohol or tobacco. "It's very bad stuff," said Garcia regarding Bath Salts, noting the substance also made headlines not long ago when it was the contributing cause of a young local man's drowning death. Like many new, unregulated intoxicants that turn up periodically and are sold legally until banned, Bath Salts were available in Florida stores prior to being banned in May 2011. The Air Force policy implemented in 2010 was designed to close the door on the issue of what can and can't be used or possessed by Airmen, making Bath Salts off limits even before the state ban, said Garcia. The bottom line is that nothing that gets you high in any way (alcohol and tobacco excluded) is permitted, which makes it easy for Airmen, said Garcia. That Bath Salts, so powerful it can cause users to behave like wild animals, should be considered off limits would seem obvious, Garcia said, but "it doesn't hurt" to remind everyone of the broad AF instruction when specific new substances appear in the headlines.