Bath Salts: Effects, Signs of Addiction, & Treatment

While these are three of the most common chemicals sold as bath salts, there are dozens of others that may be used. This makes treatment in the case of overdose or adverse effects very difficult. The chemical composition of bath salts can vary widely, producing a range of drug affects—both short and long-term—from using bath salts. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that MDPV, a common synthetic cathinone found in bath salts, is ten times more powerful than cocaine, is very similar to Ecstasy in how it makes the user feel. Some of the most commonly found synthetic cathinone in bath salts are 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone. In 2012, President Obama deemed the active ingredients in bath salts as Schedule 1 drugs.

1. When a loved one’s bath salts abuse spirals out of control, rehab is an option.
2. Abuse of these stimulants has led to thousands of cases of overdose, which can be fatal.
3. There is a great risk for overdose because packages may contain up to 500 milligrams.
4. In a 2011 study published in the journal Addiction, 44.3 percent of 947 mephedrone users believed the drug was at least as addictive as cocaine.

Can You Get Addicted to Bath Salts?

They are often unresponsive to any commands to stop their actions, and pepper spray or stun guns may have no effect. These substances can produce short-term side effects that do not seriously damage a person’s health. But they can also lead to immediate, life-threatening health problems that require medical attention.

Signs and Symptoms of Bath Salts Use

The team of experts develops treatment plans that address each patient’s specific needs. Withdrawal side effects from bath salts aren’t considered life-threatening as with other drugs. However, as mentioned the exact chemical make-up of bath salts can vary and chemicals can cause unknown and unexpected reactions.

Encore Outpatient Services

A person experiencing bath salt toxicity may also show psychological signs, such as aggression, psychosis, or violence. When in this state, a person may be at risk of harming themselves or other people. Synthetic cathinones are similar to certain substances found in the khat plant.

There are a number of other variants that produce similar effects. During the second stage of treatment, you may participate in emotional and psychological therapies. These will help you work on behavioral conditioning and better prepare you to live a sober life. During this step, therapists help patients work through depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring afflictions. Mental health issues occur alongside addiction more frequently than not.

UC San Diego Health

In addition, severe depression and suicide are common with bath salts withdrawal. For these reasons, it’s highly recommended that anyone who is addicted to bath salts and wants to stop seek professional help to do so. Recovery from abuse and treatment for addiction are completed in three parts. During this stage, you will be supervised by medical professionals.

The effects of bath salts are reported to be similar to other types of psychostimulants. It’s important to note that suicidal feelings brought on by bath salts can last for several days after the person has taken the drug. Additionally, users of bath salts have reported cravings much like that experienced by methamphetamine users. While it’s hard to exactly know the long-term effects of this dangerous drug, it is known that users are at high risk for developing substance use disorder. Bath salts is the most widely used designer drug’s street name given to this dangerous drug made with synthetic cathinone. Cathinone is a stimulant occurring naturally in the khat plant typically found in parts of Africa.

AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. Desperacy pushes people to use illicit drugs when undergoing pain continually. Enter your https://rehabliving.net/dangers-of-quitting-alcohol-cold-turkey/ phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Overdosing on bath salts requires close medical monitoring due to a lack of antidote for overdose cases. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. The admissions navigators at American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help you understand how to treat stimulant addiction and provide information on various treatment centers around the U.S. Call us today at and take the first step towards a life in recovery. You can have what is called “excited delirium.” If you have this, you will get dehydrated, your muscle tissue will begin to break down, and your kidneys may stop working. In purest form, the drug is a light brown or white crystallized powder.

Long-term effects have also been known to include severe behavioral disorders. It becomes tough to break free from usage because the substance is extremely addictive. Hence, the abusers constantly have to increase dosages to keep achieving the desired level of a high. At this stage, finding a program to help detox the drug from the system can be a tough task.

For example, poison-control centers in the United States reportedly received 304 calls for the abuse of this drug in 2010. That number increased to 1,782 calls in just the first four months of 2011 and to more than 6,000 calls by the end of that year. Interestingly, there were fewer crack vs coke calls to poison-control centers in 2012 and 2013 (2,691 and 996, respectively). The areas where these drugs are used have also seemed to expand; originally, most of the calls to poison-control centers came from Louisiana, Florida, and Kentucky but later came from 33 states.

Having the support of loved ones may encourage a person as they find help for their condition. The U.S. government passed the Synthetic https://sober-home.org/alcohol-as-a-seizure-trigger/ Drug Abuse Prevention Act (SDAPA) in July 2012. This act listed mephedrone, methylone, and MDPV as Schedule I controlled substances.