E! EXPLORES CONTROVERSIAL POP CULTURE TRENDS IN NEW DOCU-STYLE SERIES "SOCIETY X WITH LAURA LING," HOSTED BY THE VENERABLE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST

Ling Enters the Dark World of Emerging Designer Drugs Including Bath Salts, Spice, and Synthetic Hallucinogens in Series Premiere on Thursday, October 3 at 10 PM ET/PT

Los Angeles - September 10, 2013 - In an all-new docu-style series, E! will investigate a number of pop culture trends that are gaining momentum on the fringes of society, yet which are questionable to those in the mainstream. "Society X With Laura Ling" opens the aperture on today's most fascinating and of-the-moment fads, lifestyles and underground worlds. In each thought-provoking show, Ling will interview those who are enmeshed in the particular sub-culture to bring E! viewers an unvarnished look at these provocative lifestyles. "Society X With Laura Ling" launches Thursday, October 3 at 10pm ET/PT with a look at the world of synthetic drugs.

In the series premiere, Laura Ling investigates a disturbing trend of getting high on psychoactive materials derived by making modifications to existing active drugs. Ling exposes the frightening truth about the substances known as research chemicals - bath salts, spice, and synthetic hallucinogens - along with their tragic consequences for so many who dare to "party" with them. She discovers where these drugs are derived, who buys them, who sells them, who is using them and why they are so difficult to legally regulate. She also interviews users themselves about the damaging effects these drugs have had on them, and speaks at length to one currently addicted person about his daily usage and whether he has any plans to stop.

Ling will ride along with undercover law enforcement authorities as they raid a suspected dealer's smoke shop. In addition, a visit to an undisclosed location in California reveals an eye-opening account of just how much illegal drug product crosses our borders each and every day.

"Society X With Laura Ling" premieres with an inside look at the world of emerging synthetic drugs on Thursday, October 3 at 10 PM ET/PT.

About E! Entertainment

E! is television's top global destination for all things pop culture. The network is currently available to 98 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. and E! content is available on all platforms anytime and anywhere from E! Online to social media to mobile to VOD to the latest emerging platforms. Popular programming includes E! core franchises, "E! News," "The Soup," "Chelsea Lately," "Fashion Police" and "True Hollywood Story," as well as the network's popular series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Kourtney and Kim Take Miami," "Married to Jonas" and "Total Divas." Additionally, E!'s "Live from the Red Carpet" signature events keep fans connected to their favorite stars on pop culture's biggest nights. E! is a network of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.