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Hallucinogens

Bath Salts

Bath Salts are a dangerous and ever-changing group of drugs that are known for their Hallucinogenic and Stimulatory effects.

What Are Bath Salts?

Bath Salts are a category of drug called “New Psychoactive Substances” (NPS). They are usually primarily composed of one of two chemicals: 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or Mephedrone. These components, man-made versions of a natural component found in the drug Khat, were made Schedule I drugs in 2012. This classification made the sale and possession of these chemicals illegal, even for medical use. Their nature as Designer drugs, however, puts them in a gray area.

Many Designer drugs keep ahead of the law by altering the formula slightly. This maintains a superficially similar effect, but with a makeup that has not been outlawed. By the time legislation can catch up, clandestine labs have already tweaked the recipe enough to make it “legal” again. Other names for Bath Salts include but are not limited to:

  • Purple Wave
  • Red Dove
  • Blue Silk
  • Zoom
  • Bloom
  • Ocean Snow
  • Lunar Wave
  • Vanilla Sky
  • White Lightning
  • Hurricane Charlie

There is a significant amount of confusion between Bath Salts the drug and Epsom additives, which are actually used in baths for their aromas and as muscle relaxants. There is no actual connection between the two, other than that many batches of the drug resemble the crystalline structure of the more familiar, harmless substance.

Effects Of Bath Salts

Bath Salts are traditionally classified as a Hallucinogen because of the mind-altering effects that the drug creates. However, the chemicals used in their production also give them Stimulant qualities, similar in effect to Methamphetamines. This combination makes them extremely dangerous to users and those around them. The many dangerous effects include:

  • Agitation
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Chest pains
  • High blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Auditory hallucinations
  • Visual hallucinations
  • Dissociation from reality
  • Rapid mood changes
  • Paranoia
  • Anger
  • Psychosis

In popular culture, Bath Salts have become synonymous with the psychosis, largely due to a few very high profile news stories that were associated with the drug. Using Bath Salts is extremely dangerous, even when compared to most other illicit substances. Its use can be life threatening. Not just from the risk of overdose, but the erratic, violent behavior that can be harmful to the user and those around them. Whenever any illicit drug is abused, the risks are increased. There is no guaranteed consistency, quality, or safety that comes with illicit drugs. There are no guidelines of what distributors can and can’t use. This means that users could actually be ingesting virtually anything from rat poison to Opioids.

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Bath Salts Statistics

304
poisonings

In 2010, there were 304 calls to poison centers in the US that involved Bath Salts.

6,138
poisonings

In 2011, that number jumped to 6,138.

Addiction

While there is little to no consensus on the addictiveness of the substances, and there has not been sufficient research to reach definitive conclusions, Stimulants are highly addictive in general. Additionally, given their status as an NPS and Designer drug, there can be large variances in between batches that can cause dangerous behaviors and make them even more addictive. If someone develops an addiction, it is imperative to seek a medically assisted detox. Trying to go “cold turkey” often puts someone into a dangerous, violent, or even self-harming state.

Finding Treatment

If someone you love or you yourself are battling an addiction, it is crucial to get help as soon as possible. This is an especially dangerous category of drugs that can vary greatly from batch to batch. There is no consistency guaranteed when using drugs of this kind, and any dose could be your last. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to a dedicated treatment provider to help you get started on your road to recovery.

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