And cathinone, an alkaloid derived from east Africa's khat plant, has been chewed by people for hundreds of years for its stimulant effect. The effects of the drugs also vary based on the route of administration; they can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or inserted into the rectum or vagina.
The most worrisome effects are the extreme neurological and psychiatric changes—paranoia, terrifying hallucinations, psychosis, self-destructive and violent behavior—that occur in users of bath salts. Despite these effects, some users continue to use the drugs. Moreover, the effects are long lasting.
Clin Toxicol. 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. Dangerous Stimulants Disguised as Bath Salts. Read More Addiction Articles. About Us. Where Waves of Change Begin. Evidence-based treatment. Expert Staff. Proven Approach. Holistic Amenities. Contact Us Today. Take a Free Online Assessment. Intoxication from several man-made cathinones, including MDPV, mephedrone, methedrone, and butylone, has caused death among some people who have used bath salts.
Snorting or needle injection of bath salts seems to cause the most harm. Learn more about drug overdoses in youth. Another danger of "bath salts" is that they might contain other ingredients that cause their own harmful effects. There is no way to know what is in a dose of bath salts other than testing it in a lab.
In turn, there have been reports of other drugs containing bath salts. For example, hundreds of ecstasy capsules tested in two South Florida crime labs in contained methylone, a dangerous synthetic cathinone. Research shows bath salts are highly addictive. Frequent use might cause tolerance a person needs to take more of the drug to feel the same effects , dependence, and strong withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms might include:. If a friend is using drugs, you might have to step away from the friendship for a while. It is important to protect your own mental health and not put yourself in situations where drugs are being used. This lesson, provides scientific information about teen brain development and the effect of drugs and alcohol use on the brain.
These community activities are designed to help students in grades 6 through 12 learn about the effects of drug use Content on this site is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA.
Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health.
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