New Dangerous Drug Being Used by Young Adults —
There is a new drug being marketed all over Massachusetts called “bath salts”. But these are not your average bath salts that you pour into the bathtub to soak in after a long, hard day to relax – these so-called bath salts are intended to be snorted, smoked or injected – and users are getting high off of them.
“Bath Salts” are synthetic derivatives of cathinone. Cathinone is naturally found in the khat plant and stimulates the central nervous system. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration 2011 Drugs of Abuse Resource Guide, Mephedrone and MDPV (3-4 methylenedioxypyrovalerone) are two of the designer cathinones most commonly found in “bath salt” products
Bath Salts are illegal in Massachusetts. They cannot be possessed or sold.
“Bath salts” have been commonly sold over the Internet, are were sold in convenience stores and also in so-called ”head shops”. Bath salts are sold in white, off-white or yellow powder form in small plastic or foil packages, tablet form and capsules. According to the D.E.A. Drugs of Abuse Resource Guide, bath salts also are known by the names 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.
“Bath salts” are usually ingested by sniffing or snorting it when in powder form. They can also be taken orally, smoked, or put into a solution and injected into veins.
People who abuse “bath salts” have reported agitation, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, depression, paranoia, delusions, suicidal thoughts, seizures, and panic attacks. Users have also reported effects including impaired perception of reality, reduced motor control, and decreased ability to think clearly. Side effects include causing rapid heart rate (which may lead to heart attacks and strokes), chest pains, nosebleeds, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
Parents or others who want to learn more about “bath salts” and other abused narcotics are encouraged to refer to the D.E.A. 2011 Drugs of Abuse Resource Guide which can be viewed by visiting: http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/drugs_of_abuse.pdf.
