Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL) Copyright: 2013 News-Journal Corporation Contact: http://www.news-journalonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700 Note: gives priority to local writers Author: Katie Kustura FAMILY OF EDGEWATER MAN KILLED ON BATH SALTS SAY LAWS SHOULD BE TIGHTER ORMOND BEACH - To the untrained eye, Adam Duke looked pretty tough. With multiple tattoos, facial hair and gold caps on several teeth, "sweetheart" probably wasn't the first word that came to mind after a look at the young Edgewater man, but that's the kind of guy he was to family and friends. "He was the kind of guy who, even if he had nothing, he'd try to help you," said Duke's uncle, Tracy Gieck Jr. That's why the 24-year-old's loved ones were surprised when they learned Duke was hit and killed by a train - a tragedy his family and friends say could've been prevented had Duke not been high on bath salts the night of June 12, 2012. Several cities in Volusia and Flagler counties instituted bans on synthetic drugs even before Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an emergency order Dec. 11, 2012, that made it illegal to sell the synthetic substances. Following Bondi's order, Volusia County authorities spent a week warning multiple businesses of Bondi's order. Prior to Bondi's order, businesses were able to skirt the law because the products' chemical composition is different from the illegal substances they're designed to mimic. Bath salts are made to imitate the effects of amphetamines and cocaine. Many were also sold and packaged with the label "not for human consumption." Duke's family and friends say they are pleased by the recent bust of a synthetic-drug ring based out of New Smyrna Beach and the actions several cities have taken to outlaw the manufactured substances often labeled with names like Cloud Nine, Mind Trip and Mr. Happy. But for Duke's mother, these changes came too late and have not completely solved the problem. "It's an epidemic that's just flourishing," Dorothy "Dea" Buczek said. Buczek, of Ormond Beach, said she believes her son wouldn't have put himself in such a dangerous position if he hadn't gotten ahold of bath salts. "He was out of his mind," Buczek, 57, said. Duke's teenage cousin and his cousin's girlfriend were with Duke when he bought the bath salts. The two teens also witnessed Duke get hit by the train. Gieck, 54, said knowing bath salts were being sold over the counter at numerous Volusia County convenience stores, and that they had such an effect on someone, scared him. "You don't know what it's going to do to you," Gieck, of Texas, said. "You could fry your brains out completely or not even get a buzz." Since Duke's death, Gieck and Buczek have worked to contact local officials and legislators about completely outlawing the substances. This year, a new law added more than two dozen chemicals to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Buczek said she wants to prevent any other families from losing a child to the drug. She said one of the things that bothers her the most is the lack of concern from the people selling it and the way bath salts are packaged to look like a harmless good time. "It's money, it's business," Buczek said. "They don't think about how it affects people. They almost push it to these kids." Gieck said he was grateful Bondi's office got involved, but he would still like to see more changes made to laws regarding synthetic drugs. "I think there needs to be a little ambiguity in the law and a little flexibility for law enforcement to enforce the law," Gieck said. Buczek said makers of the substances are finding loopholes by removing or changing one chemical, allowing them to get away with it. "I'm not going to stop fighting this," Buczek said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom