The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Public Health and Health Planning Council, expanded the existing list of prohibited drugs and chemicals to include dozens more substances that are now used to make synthetic drugs, in an effort to crack down on so-called "bath salts" use. "The regulations will allow for the first time an owner of an establishment and/or an employee selling synthetic drugs to be charged with possession of an illicit substance. Further, to support enforcement, the regulations will increase the criminal penalties for those who violate the rules. Violators will face fines up to $500 and potentially up to 15 days in jail," read a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. "Bath salts and other synthetic drugs pose a direct, serious threat to public health and safety, and we must do everything we can to remove these harmful substances from sale and distribution in New York," Governor Cuomo said. In 2012, there have been 191 emergency room visits in New York this year, 120 occurring this past June and July, according to Cuomo's office. According to the New York State Poison Control Center, there were 321 calls about bath salts through the first six months of 2012.