Bath salts is a common name for synthetic cathinones; a type of human-made drug with stimulant effects. A cathinone is a type of chemical found naturally in a khat plant, a shrub grown in East Africa.
Although bath salts are chemically similar to a natural plant, this drug is much stronger than its natural counterpart. The drug has similar effects to drugs like MDMA or amphetamines.
Bath salts are part of a group of drugs known as ‘New Psychoactive Substances’ that have no medical use but are produced for recreational use, misuse, and abuse.
Bath salts can look like a white or brown crystal powder and can be sold under labels like “jewelry cleaner” or “plant food.” The drug also goes by street names such as:
Bath salts are particularly dangerous because they are unregulated, but their effects can mimic those of drugs like MDMA or amphetamines. Bath salts can be swallowed, snorted, or injected, and the effects usually last up to 8 hours. It can take nearly a day for the full effects of the drug to wear off.
Since 2010, the use of bath salts in the U.S. has increased rapidly, which has led to an increase in poison control center calls and emergency room visits.
Bath salts are stimulants that can produce an intense ‘high’ or feelings of euphoria. This high can make people uninhibited or overly friendly, but it can have negative and dangerous side effects as well. For example, side effects of bath salts can include:
Despite the widespread use of bath salts, there is little understanding of how most synthetic cathinone derivatives affect the body and a user’s behaviors.
There are also side effects of stopping the use of bath salts. Detoxing from bath salts can result in withdrawal symptoms, which can range from uncomfortable to dangerous. These might include symptoms like:
Bath salts are not regulated and there’s no way to know what exactly is in the drug. This can increase the risk of overdose, as some people may not be aware of how much they are taking or whether it’s mixed with other drugs.
Bath salts are very strong and can make people take risks they wouldn’t usually take. This can increase the risk of accidents or injuries. There are also risks associated with the euphoric or delirious state that bath salts produce.
As with any drug, using bath salts alone or in combination with other drugs comes with a risk of overdose.
Bath salts are designed to mimic other drugs of abuse and can be highly addictive. Taking the drug can cause feelings of intense drug craving that leads to drug binges, making it very hard to stop.
While using bath salts can impact the body, people may start to psychologically rely on the drug as well.
An important sign of addiction to bath salts is the experience of withdrawal symptoms when stopping. Although more research is required, a survey of 1,500 people who use bath salts found that over 50 percent consider it to be addictive.
Addiction is a serious illness and can change the way people think and behave. Someone who is addicted to bath salts may have physical symptoms, but might also have a hard time performing daily activities. Some of the signs and symptoms of a bath salt addiction include:
There are many different types of therapy available for a bath salt addiction. The first step in treatment is dealing with the initial side effects of the drug, like managing body temperature and any aggressive behavior.
Although more research is required on specific treatment for bath salt addiction, a combination of medication and therapy is effective in supporting recovery. Treatment can be delivered in an inpatient or outpatient setting, or both, and may include:
Taking bath salts comes with many risks, but stopping can be difficult. Addiction to bath salts requires professional help to support recovery. Reach out for treatment today.
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National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Synthetic Cathinones (“Bath Salts”).” 2018. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/synthetic-cathinones-bath-salts
Prosser, Jane M, and Nelson, Lewis S. “The Toxicology of Bath Salts: A Review of Synthetic Cathinones.” Journal of Medical Toxicology, vol. 8, 2011, pp. 33-42. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13181-011-0193-z
Johnson, Patrick S., and Johnson, Matthew W. “Investigation of “Bath Salts” Use Patterns Within an Online Sample of Users in the United States.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol 46, no.5, 2014, pp. 369–378. doi:10.1080/02791072.2014.962717, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4266324/
Baumann, Michael H et al. “Psychoactive “bath salts”: not so soothing.” European Journal of Pharmacology, vol 698, no.1-3, 2013, pp 1–5. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.11.020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23178799/
Scherbaum, Norbert et al. “New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) – a Challenge for the Addiction Treatment Services.” Pharmacopsychiatry, vol. 50, no. 3, 2019, pp. 116-122, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28444659/
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