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Psychoactive Bath Salts’: Compounds, Mechanisms, and Toxicities

Recreational doses of bath salts enhance mood and increase alertness, whereas higher doses can lead to dangerous neurological and cardiovascular complications. Whether you’re looking for detox, inpatient care, or outpatient support, a variety of programs are available. According to the 2015 Monitoring the Future Study, 0.4% of 8th graders, 0.7% of 10th graders, and 1% of 12th graders reported using bath salts in the past year.3 They are often sold without restrictions and young people can buy them off the internet. Drugs like bath salts appeal to younger individuals because their packaging is often colorful and attractive.

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The practitioner will also either perform a physical examination or request that the individual’s primary care doctor do so. Unfortunately, any of the complications described do not require long-term use of the drug in order to occur. Bath salts are sometimes referred to as “zombie” or “cannibal” because it was speculated that a person who engaged in cannibalism as part of an assault might have been intoxicated on the substance. For centuries, people there have chewed the leaves for their mild stimulant effect.

How to relieve statin side effects

  • This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
  • Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider.
  • Bath salts (also called psychoactive bath salts, PABS) are a group of recreational designer drugs.
  • Use or misuse of synthetic drugs like bath salts often occurs because people want to experience euphoria and other desirable stimulant effects.1
  • Health care workers should be aware that patients presenting with this constellation of symptoms may have taken bath salts, and appropriate supportive care should be provided.
  • Treatment for a bath salt addiction is similar to other stimulant addictions, such as cocaine or methamphetamine.

“Monkey dust”, “bath salts” or “plant food” are often used at the same time as classical psychoactive drugs. Due to their rapid onset, synthetic cathinones are powerful reward/reinforcers, with high addiction potential. The name derives from instances in which the drugs were disguised as bath salts. Addressing addiction requires a comprehensive approach tailored specifically for individuals struggling with substance abuse issues related to bath salts. Using bath salts poses numerous health risks that can lead to severe consequences both physically and mentally.

Are bath salts addictive?

Younger children may get the flu shot in a thigh muscle. For older children and adults, the flu shot is usually given in a muscle in the arm. If you have a cold or don’t feel well, you may still be able to get a flu shot. After that, they can receive single annual doses of the flu vaccine. The first time children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years get a flu vaccine, they may need two doses given at least four weeks apart. Mayo Clinic offers flu shots in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Teen Bath Salts Abuse

Their packaging often includes the label “not for human consumption” so that the makers do not have to comply with federal regulations. They can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected and may be purchased from convenience stores, local drug dealers or the Internet. They are highly addictive and can cause serious side effects.

Physical symptoms are not the only signs of bath salts use, however. These drugs are derived from the khat plant—a shrub that grows in east Africa and parts of the Arabian peninsula. Perhaps one of the most famous incidents of apparent bath salts abuse involved a spate of horrific attacks, including cannibalism. As you or the person you’re caring for gets better, watch for any symptoms that don’t go away. But listen to the advice of your healthcare professional.

They guide our mission as accomplished individuals dedicated to improving the landscape of addiction recovery and mental wellness. Alcohol and Pain Our advisory council brings together leaders in behavioral health, technology, and business. Our mission is to help everyone find the best path to recovery through the most comprehensive, helpful network of treatment providers worldwide.

While bath salts do not show up on most drug tests, they can be detected in specialized urine tests for up to a week. The half-life of bath salts varies, with Mephedrone having a half-life of around 2 hours. Mephedrone and MDPV (3-4 methylene-dioxypyrovalerone) are chemicals from living amends scholarship a group called cathinones, most commonly found in ‘bath salt’ products. Because these drugs are new and some of their contents are unknown, their use presents many dangers. Addiction Center does not endorse any treatment facility or guarantee the quality of care provided, or the results to be achieved, by any treatment facility. Addiction Center is not a medical provider or treatment facility and does not provide medical advice.

If you or someone you know experiences these effects, visit the emergency department immediately. Despite this, some can purchase bath salts online or in head shops, convenience stores, and gas stations. Over time, this can lead to physical and psychological dependence as you seek the euphoric feeling the drug provides. Regular use increases tolerance, necessitating larger doses to achieve the same effects. Bath salts only have recreational purposes and have no recognized medical application.

Though the name may sound somewhat harmless, bath salts can be very dangerous and have a wide range of negative health effects. Health care workers should be aware that patients presenting with this constellation of symptoms may have taken bath salts, and appropriate supportive care should be provided. Few preclinical studies have examined the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of synthetic cathinones or the consequences of chronic drug dosing, and these types of investigations are needed.

The plant produces cathinones, which act in a similar way to amphetamines. The facts about bath salts are disturbing on their own, but further investigation found that there was no evidence that they cause “zombie-like” behavior. As a result, bath salts were widely maligned with little real evidence, and numerous myths have sprung up about their use. Also try to limit visitors until the person has recovered. Avoid direct physical contact with the person who has COVID-19.

Once you’re feeling better and haven’t drug causing foaming at mouth had a fever for a full 24 hours without taking medicine for fever, you can go back to being around others. Carefully watch yourself or the person you’re caring for to see if COVID-19 symptoms are getting worse. If you are age 65 or older or have chronic medical conditions, you may be at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19. Your healthcare professional can advise you on what’s best in your situation.

Effects of Bath Salts

These instances were widely reported as being caused by these drugs, but after further information was unveiled, there was no evidence of bath salts abuse found in these cases. The drugs widely sold as bath salts and under other similar names are alleged to produce dramatic effects in their users. Many people with COVID-19 get better with rest, fluids and treatment for their symptoms.

Bath salts are known to produce psychoactive effects in addition to their stimulant effects. The khat plant is endemic to Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and its leaves are typically chewed like tobacco, producing stimulant-like effects. You will receive a response to text or email within 24 hoursMsg and data rates may apply.

  • According to the 2015 Monitoring the Future Study, 0.4% of 8th graders, 0.7% of 10th graders, and 1% of 12th graders reported using bath salts in the past year.3
  • Makers of detox foot pads claim that the pads draw out harmful substances in the body called toxins during sleep.
  • Flu, also called influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system.
  • Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
  • Long-term health consequences remain largely unknown due to limited research; however, anecdotal evidence suggests that prolonged use can result in lasting psychological issues such as anxiety disorders or persistent psychosis.

Risk factors

If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kilograms (kg). For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

The unpredictability of bath salts’ potency poses significant risks to users. The unpredictable nature of these substances makes their effects difficult to anticipate. ➤ The drugs are often marketed as legal alternatives.

Because “bath salts” encompass a wide range of substances, the half-lives of these drugs can vary. Cathinone is a stimulant with mild effects, but synthetic cathinones like bath salts can be much stronger and are considered highly dangerous. Bath salts are synthetic (man-made) stimulants that belong to a class of drugs known as synthetic cathinones.

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