Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What It Is: The name "bath salts" sounds innocent, but these are powerful and dangerous stimulant drugs. Sometimes Called: bloom, cloud nine, flakka, scarface, vanilla sky, and white lightning How It's Used: Bath salts are sold as a white or off-white powder, mostly in small plastic or foil packages.
What It Does: Bath salts contain manmade chemicals that increase brain and central nervous system activity in much the same way as drugs like amphetamines or MDMA ecstasy. Other short-term effects include: 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 Physical effects of bath salts include: decreased muscle and body control increased blood pressure and body temperature chest pains irregular heartbeat nosebleeds feeling sick and throwing up seizures stroke heart attack brain swelling Users can also develop what is called "excited delirium.
Bath salts have caused a number of deaths and been blamed for a handful of suicides and murders. The enduring high and extreme behavior may stem in part from the insidious combination of the compounds in bath salts.
While mephedrone acts like methamphetamines in increasing dopamine concentrations, MDPV mimics the way in which cocaine inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in the brain staying flooded with dopamine, according to research by Louis De Felice, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond.
The long-term neurological effects of bath salts are likely to be as damaging as those of methamphetamines and cocaine—or worse. In July, President Obama signed legislation that adds MDPV and mephedrone, along with 29 other compounds used to produce synthetic marijuana and hallucinogens, to the controlled substances listed as Schedule I drugs.
And although several states had acted earlier to make the components of bath salts illegal, the drug was easily obtained at gas stations, adult bookstores, convenience stores, smoke shops, head shops, and truck stops.
Two weeks after the federal ban went into effect, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized packets of synthetic cathinones and 4. The hour raid in July involved US cities and resulted in 91 arrests. But bath salts continue to be sold on the Internet and in retail stores, camouflaged under names such as stain remover, research chemicals, plant food, and insect repellent. In addition, drug makers can easily skirt the ban on MDPV and mephedrone by turning to other cathinone derivatives, of which there are many.
Unlike drugs of abuse such as ecstasy, which is consistently made of the synthetic compound MDMA 3,4-methylenedioxy- N -methylamphetamine , the composition and dose of bath salts can vary tremendously, making diagnosis challenging and leading to greater risks of overdose and adverse reactions.
The patient's condition is also not a reliable guide. Am J Med. Because bath salts are so potent, high doses of sedatives may be necessary to prevent users from harming themselves and others. In addition, users of bath salts may be taking other drugs simultaneously. Should bath salts wane in popularity, authorities say they have no doubt new psychoactive designer drugs will take their place. Clinicians can help prevent the lethal consequences of the next generation of illicit drugs by reporting any cases of drug toxicity to poison centers, advises Ryan.
Slomski A. Coronavirus Resource Center. Some people use Molly to avoid additives such as caffeine, methamphetamine, and other harmful drugs commonly found in MDMA pills sold as Ecstasy.
But those who take what they think is pure Molly may be exposing themselves to the same risks. Law enforcement sources have reported that Molly capsules contain harmful substances including synthetic cathinones. For example, hundreds of Molly capsules tested in two South Florida crime labs in contained methylone, a dangerous synthetic cathinone.
Raised heart rate, blood pressure, and chest pain are some other health effects of synthetic cathinones. People who experience delirium often suffer from dehydration, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, and kidney failure. The worst outcomes are associated with snorting or needle injection.
Intoxication from synthetic cathinones has resulted in death. Yes, synthetic cathinones can be addictive. Animal studies show that rats will compulsively self-administer synthetic cathinones. Human users have reported that the drugs trigger intense, uncontrollable urges to use the drug again.
Taking synthetic cathinones can cause strong withdrawal symptoms that include:. As with all addictions, health care providers should screen for co-occurring mental health conditions. While there are no FDA-approved medicines for synthetic cathinone addiction, there are medicines available for common co-occurring conditions.
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