The Inherent Dangers Of Bath Salts
A brand new designer drug called “bath salt” has become very popular among young people who are looking for a cheap and quick high. Poison control centers all over the country have reported a growing number of calls regarding this synthetic stimulant. More and more states are banning the drug, however, there is currently no federal law in place prohibiting its sale. This drug can lead to major health issues and anyone addicted to it should seek help immediately.
Production
Don’t be thrown off by the name as these bath salts are not the sort you would use to soak in the tub with. The presumption in the medical community is that bath salts are MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and are being manufactured by illegal street chemists with derivatives of pyrovalerone. However, nobody truly knows what is in bath salts because there is no way to test for these substances in a lab setting.
Retail
Retailers are selling the drug as bath salts and labeling them as being “not safe for human consumption”. This is so they can avoid them from being labeled illegal. They can be purchased at mini-marts and smoke shops around the country or online under names like Ivory Wave and Bolivian Bath. While several states have outlawed their sale, ultimately it will have to be a federal law that takes them off the shelves and out of the hands of young people for good.
Enforcement Policy
The government would need to classify bath salts as a schedule 1 drug to make this happen. This schedule status states the drug has no medicinal value and comes with a high potential for abuse. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency has recently invoked its “emergency scheduling authority” to expedite this process. The DEA plans to define the possession and selling of bath salts illegal in the United States. This short-term action will remain in effect for one year, during which time the government is expected to call for permanent ban.
What They Do
There are many different side effects that a person can experience by using bath salts. Some of the most common side effects of bath salt usage are agitation, paranoia, and severe chest pain. There is also a high probability of heart issues including increased heightened pulse rate and high blood pressure. It is a fair and accurate comparison to say that the side effects of bath salts are similar to the side effects of cocaine or ecstasy.
There has not been enough conclusive testing on the designer drug yet to determine what long-term effects it may have on a person. Currently, acute toxicity is the main dilemma being faced by the medical community. If you think you may be dependent to to bath salt you should seek a young adult drug treatment program immediately.
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