What Are Bath Salts –

What Are Bath Salts

“Bath salts” have nothing to do with bathing. They are called bath salts because they are usually packaged as a product “for a soothing bath, not for human consumption.” Before the drugs making up bath salts were illegal, this kept sellers from having the drugs confiscated. Sellers were usually convenience stores, head shops and similar businesses. These drugs have now been made illegal in the United States, so their sale is carried out more covertly.

Bath Salts Effects

Nosebleeds, sweating, and nausea are some other health effects of Bath Salts. People who experience excited delirium often suffer from dehydration, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, and kidney failure. Intoxication from Bath Salts has resulted in death. The worst outcomes are associated with snorting or needle injection.Other effects include:

paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
hallucinations—experiencing sensations and images that seem real though they are not
increased sociability
increased sex drive
panic attacks
excited delirium—extreme agitation and violent behavior

Addiction & Withdrawal

Animal studies show that rats will compulsively self-administer bath salts. Human users have reported that the drugs trigger intense cravings—uncontrollable urges to use the drug again. Taking bath salts often may cause strong withdrawal symptoms that include:

depression
anxiety
tremors
problems sleeping
paranoia

Methods of Use

People typically swallow, snort, smoke, or inject bath salts. Small foil packages are often left behind, evidence of bath salts consumption..

Bath Salts usually take the form of a white or brown crystal-like powder and are sold in small plastic or foil packages labeled “not for human consumption.” Also sometimes labeled as “plant food,” “jewelry cleaner,” or “phone screen cleaner,” people can buy them online and in drug paraphernalia stores under a variety of brand names, which include:

Flakka
Bloom
Cloud Nine
Lunar Wave
Vanilla Sky
White Lightning
Scarface

What Are Bath Salts

Bath Salts are substituted cathinones, which are synthetic, concentrated versions of the stimulant chemical in Khat. Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone and methylone are the chemicals most often found in Bath Salts.

What Does It Look Like

Bath Salt products are sold in powder form in small plastic or foil packages of 200 and 500 milligrams under various brand names. Mephedrone is a fine white, off-white or slightly yellow-colored powder. It can also be found in tablet and capsule form. MDPV is a fine white or off-white powder.

How Is It Used

Bath Salts are usually ingested by sniffing/snorting. They can also be taken orally, smoked, or put into a solution and injected into veins.

What Are The Street Names/Slang Terms

Bath Salts are sold under a number of different “brand” names, and as different products, such as plant feeder or insect repellent. Brand names include: Bliss, Blue Silk, Cloud Nine, Drone, Energy-1, Ivory Wave, Lunar Wave, Meow Meow, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Red Dove, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Knight and White Lightning.

What Are Short-Term Effects

Short-term effects include very severe paranoia that can sometimes cause users to harm themselves or others. Effects reported to Poison Control Centers include suicidal thoughts, agitation, combative/violent behavior, confusion, hallucinations/psychosis, increased heart rate, hypertension, chest pain, death or serious injury. The speed of onset is 15 minutes, while the length of the high from these drugs is 4-6 hours.