Bath salts are a type of designer drug that contains synthetic cathinones, which are man-made chemicals that increase brain and central nervous system activity in much the same way as drugs like amphetamines or MDMA (Ecstasy) . They are not a hygiene product used for bathing, as the name might imply, but are dangerous synthetic cathinones. Bath salts are sold as a white or off-white powder, mostly in small plastic or foil packages. The drugs are usually snorted (sniffed up a nostril), but they can also be swallowed, smoked, or mixed with a liquid and injected with a syringe.
The most commonly reported ingredient in bath salts is methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), although other stimulants may be present, such as mephedrone and others. Bath salts can lead to serious, and even fatal, adverse reactions. The drug effect is a high or "rush" that is similar to methamphetamine (speed). They are often sold on the street as cheap substitutes for other stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Positive effects of bath salts include an out-of-body experience, elated mood, or feeling delirious. These effects can last up to 3-4 hours. However, the negative effects of bath salts are much more severe and can include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hypertension
- Hyperthermia
- Agitation and irritability
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Paranoia
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Distorted sense of reality
- Decreased ability to think clearly
- Mood disturbances and psychosis
- Decreased muscle and body control
Bath salts have caused a number of deaths and have been blamed for a handful of suicides and murders. As these agents bought on the street or online may be cut with other unknown and potentially addictive substances, the true magnitude of toxicity and addiction may be even higher. Routine urine and blood drug screens do not usually test for bath salt psychoactive ingredients; however, tests are available to screen for synthetic cathinones.
