Police find drugs sold at parties

The Friendswood Police Department has issued an alert concerning a new drug being sold to youth at area rave parties.

An investigation into the new designer drug began with an arrest that was made on May 27. Jason Michael Palmer, 18, of Friendswood, was stopped in the 17100 block of Blackhawk Boulevard at 11:01 p.m. Palmer was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

While searching Palmer's vehicle, police found 18.1 grams of ecstasy, a small amount of bath salts and 44 tabs of what appeared to be LSD. The 44 tabs of suspected LSD were sent to a laboratory for analysis.

At the time of his arrest, Palmer told police that he frequented rave parties in Houston, according to a police report.

On Monday, June 18, Friendswood Police received the completed laboratory reports, which show that a designer drug, 25i-NBOMe, is being sold in a similar form as LSD. News reports in February and March 2012 from Virginia and Alabama show an alarming outcome of overdose related to this drug.

According to the police alert, officials cannot confirm that this drug is related to a recent death in Houston and an overdose in the city of Friendswood. However, police officials can confirm that the drug is here. It is being sold at rave parties, and it is highly dangerous.

The drug is reported to be a dark-colored powder that can be smoked or snorted. In Friendswood, it has taken the form of tabs that appear to be LSD.

Side effects of the drug include strong visual hallucinations, feelings of love and sexual thoughts, anxiety, nausea, abdominal pain, time perception confusion and sometimes panic in higher doses.

As of now, this drug does not appear as a prohibited substance in the Texas Controlled Substance Act.