What are Bath Salts?
The streets of United States are filled with dangerous synthetic drugs containing synthetic chemicals such as amphetamines, which are also known as bath salts. Most of the chemicals used in making these bath salts are illegal. Synthetic drugs known as bath salts also have different names such as purple wave, vanilla sky and bliss.
Bath Salts are made up of chemicals such as Mephedrone, and Methylone which were declared illegal after the 2012 Synthetic Drug Abuse and Prevention Act. In addition to these chemicals, there are more than 26 chemicals used in producing bath salts most of which are not legal.
What are the side effects?
Bath salts are available in powder form and generally snorted or mixed with other drugs and alcohol to get high. However, these synthetic drugs are poisonous and their effects run the range from from mild effects such as hallucinations, agitation, paranoia and could become severe causing extreme chest pain, high blood pressure and sometimes even suicidal behavior. According to different studies, the suicidal tendencies in a person taking bath salts could stay even after the effects or high of the drug has worn off.
According to MDPV, bath salts effects could be same as cocaine but sometimes ten times stronger.. People addicted to bath salts could also suffer from breakdown of muscle tissues, anxiety, depression and kidney failure.
What are the warning signs?
Different poison institutes and drug control authorities are conducting research throughout the world to analyze addiction to bath salts. The components of addiction and how long it could take to develop a strong addiction to bath salts has still not been completely confirmed by research. There are certain warning signs that you should look out for if you fear that someone close to you might be addicted to these dangerous chemicals:
- Aggressive and uncontrolled behavior due to paranoia.
- Person might feel extremely hot and might try to rip his clothes off.
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Agitation
- Complaints of chest pain
- Increased heart rate
The warning signs and effects of drugs also depend on the type of bath salt taken and what type of chemical was used to produce it, but some of the most common symptoms are listed above.
What are the side effects of withdrawal?
Bath salts could have long-term effects on the person taking the drug. The effects of withdrawal of the drugs are still not extremely clear, but some of the most common effects of withdrawal could be extreme agitation, changes in mood, changes in sex drive, depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior.
Treatment
Bath salts are a poisonous drugs for which no confirmed treatment has been designed yet, but a combined psychological and physical approach is necessary to treat a person addicted to bath salts. It is important to find a proper facility with health care and support systems to treat the addiction because a person with bath salt addiction might be at high risk of suicide. Based on the type of bath salt taken, the treatment might differ, so if you notice any of the above symptoms mentioned you should take the person immediately to the hospital.
The first step to treatment is detoxification and stabilization like any other drug, and once the person is physically stable it is important to invest in behavioral therapy for psychological stability. Some of the therapies recommended for abusers are cognitive behavioral therapy, reward therapy, and motivational therapy.
In addition to choosing a good health care facility or a rehab center, it is extremely important for a person to have a support system for successful reintegration into the society. Without a support system it is easy to stir back to the old ways, but with a proper support system it is easier to prevent developing a dependency on a drug again. So, it is important for you to support your loved ones if they are suffering from an addiction and are trying to recover from it.
