Bath salts are synthetic cathinones, which are central nervous system stimulants designed to mimic the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (ecstasy) . They are chemically related to cathinone, a substance found in the khat plant in Africa and southern Arabia that some people consume for its stimulant effects. Here are some details about bath salts:
Ingredients or materials:
- Bath salts are human-made stimulants that are chemically related to cathinone.
Positive effects:
- Bath salts are designed to mimic the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (ecstasy) .
Negative effects:
- Adverse or toxic effects associated with the abuse of cathinones, including synthetic cathinones, include rapid heartbeat, hypertension, hyperthermia, delirium, violent behavior, and suicide ideation in severe cases.
- Bath salts can contain one or a mixture of cathinone derivatives, many of which act as powerful stimulants.
- Some users are under the false impression that bath salts are safe, legal, and non-addictive alternatives to illicit psychostimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamine (METH), and methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) .
- Designer cathinones present in bath salts are widely abused and have adverse effects on mental health.
- The biological activity of bath salts, including MDPV (a bath salt constituent), is thought to be largely mediated through their effects on mesostriatal monoaminergic neurotransmission.
- Bath salts have negative mental health consequences.
- Synthetic cathinones, more commonly known as "bath salts," are synthetic drugs made to mimic the chemical found in the khat plant.
