Bath salt drugs: What they are, effects, and overdose

bath salts drug addiction

Bath salts mimic the effects of other stimulants, such as cocaine and ecstasy. Another important aspect of treating bath salts addiction is helping family members and friends of the addicted person refrain from encouraging addictive behaviors (codependency). Focusing on the bath salts-addicted person’s role in the family likely becomes even more urgent when that person is a child or teenager.

Legal status

These active ingredients come from drugs called cathinones, which come from the East African plant called the Catha edulis. In an attempt to avoid the legal consequences of the banned substances found in bath salts, drug dealers have apparently developed bath salts with other active ingredients. 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. Comprehensive treatment plans may also include inpatient therapy, detoxification, and ongoing recovery support to build a foundation for long-term abstinence. Given the similarities in effects that these drugs have to cocaine, methamphetamines, and other stimulant drugs of abuse, bath salts should be considered very addictive.

Social risk factors for bath salt use, as for any type of drug use disorder, include male gender, age 18 to 44 years old, unmarried marital status, and lower socioeconomic status and high levels of community violence. According to statistics by state, people residing in the West tend to be at higher risk for chemical dependency. As with substance use disorder in general, circumstances like receiving appropriate supervision, as well as clear messages from family members that drug use is unacceptable help prevent bath salt abuse and addiction.

Online Therapy Can Help

bath salts drug addiction

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. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced emergency scheduling in 2011 to control MDPV, mephedrone and methylone, all chemicals found in bath salts.

bath salts drug addiction

The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals substance abuse group activities located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.

Individuals struggling with bath salt addiction may exhibit a variety of psychological symptoms that are not only distressing but also dangerous. While bath salts are often used for their stimulant effects, this use comes with serious risks. Additionally, bath salts can cause a range of serious physical and psychological symptoms.

People who may have less severe psychological symptoms of bath salts dependency may be able to be maintained in an outpatient treatment program. They contain types of synthetic cathinones, which are banned in the U.S. The people who manufacture bath salts intentionally mislabel them in an attempt to avoid legal restrictions. They contain synthetic cathinones, which are lab-made stimulants. The cathinones found in bath salts were made illegal in the United States in 2012.

Users often experience a range of adverse effects, which can be both acute and potentially long-lasting. You can get intense withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them, which make it hard not to use again. Emotional complications of bath salts abuse can include panic attacks and violence against oneself (suicidal thoughts or actions, or self-mutilation, as in cutting or burning oneself). Unfortunately, any of the complications described do not require long-term use of the drug in order to occur. Bath salts users tend to be male slightly more solution based treatment & detox often than female and younger than the users of other drugs, and most use it at least weekly.

  1. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, addresses the psychological aspects of addiction.
  2. Most bath salts users snort or otherwise inhale the drug, causing a more intense high and higher risk of addiction and complications.
  3. Certain individuals may have a higher propensity for developing an addiction to these substances due to a range of personal, genetic, and environmental factors.
  4. It also often involves using medications to alleviate medical symptoms of intoxication like nausea, insomnia and lack of appetite, as well as emotional symptoms like agitation.
  5. At The Recovery Village Rehab Centers, we take the extra steps to treat your addiction or mental health needs by offering a full continuum of care.

What are bath salts, and how do people abuse bath salts?

Dependence on the substance can lead to tolerance and addiction. If you or someone you know experiences these effects, visit the emergency department immediately. Overdosing on bath salts requires close medical monitoring due to a lack of antidote for overdose cases. Bath salts or monkey dust come in a powdered or crystallised form which can be swallowed, smoked, injected or snorted.

Khat is used in East Africa and southern Arabia for its stimulant properties. Behavioral symptoms may include social withdrawal, financial difficulties, and neglect of responsibilities. Unfortunately, these often mean disruption in the individual’s daily life and priorities. Chronic use can lead to cognitive issues affecting attention span. Additionally, it can potentially lead to fatal consequences like seizures, brain swelling, and respiratory distress. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

What are the signs of bath salt toxicity?

The reason these drugs are commonly called bath salts is that they tend to be in the form of white or off-white powder or crystals. However, these substances are not at all the same as Epsom salts or the other bath salts in which people bathe. These drugs and are chemically similar to stimulant chemicals like cocaine or amphetamines. MDPV or MDPK also have chemical similarities to hallucinogens like Ecstasy, which is a street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

Most bath salts users snort or otherwise inhale the drug, causing a more intense high and higher risk of addiction and complications. Like other manufactured drugs, bath salts salvia dosage chart may contain additional unknown substances. This can make them very dangerous, as a person cannot be sure what they are consuming. Those addicted to bath salts require professional help to support their recovery. Multiple types of regulated treatment are available to aid them in their journey. Using bath salts can trigger intense cravings and lead to drug binges, making cessation challenging.

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