NORWICH – Following the continued rise of incidents involving “bath salts” – the latest designer drug epidemic to make headlines across the nation – the Norwich City Police Department on Thursday held a two-hour training seminar on the issue, one law enforcement officials are calling an emerging problem in the upstate area.

According to Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, it’s entirely possible that local police agencies and emergency responders have already dealt with cases involving the dangerous synthetic drug. Said Technical Sergeant with the New York State Police Doug Paquette, “This is a huge, huge problem ... we have to take matters into our own hands.”

Added Sidney Police Officer Jan Gorshack, the department’s drug recognition expert, “It’s gong to be this never-ending battle ... it’s a chemical potpourri.”