First and foremost, bath salts are not what they are marketed as or
believed to be. It is called this so it can be legally sold in the
United States but they are actually synthetic drugs with ingredients
that can cause extreme psychotic episodes, along with other long term
negative effects. The bath salts drug is sold to imitate the effects of
crystal meth, cocaine, pcp, ecstacy, and/or LSD. It is sold on the
Internet and corner stores, smoke shops and gas stations around the
country. The drug is marketed under many names such as "vanilla sky",
"ivory wave", "red dove", "blue silk, "zoom", and much more.
A lot
of people have died using this product. Deaths result from homicide,
suicide, overdosing, and at the hands of friends of users or police
officers. The reason some die at the hands of friends and/or police
officers is because the extremely violent behavior the user of the
synthetic drug exhibits and the PCP like super strength they have. The
individual ingredients placed in bath salts are to blame for these
deaths. Here are the most common and seemingly most dangerous chemicals
placed in these products.
Methylone aka M1, bk-MDMA, and
3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone serves as an entactogen/stimulant
and is classified as being a cathinone, phenethylamine, and amphetamine.
This drug was patented by Alexander Shulgin and Jacob Peyton in 1996,
with its intended use of being an antidepressant. In 2004, the chemical
began being used for recreational use as the new designer drug to hit
the Netherlands. The first product on the market with methylone was
named "Explosion," a product that comes in liquid form. Soon Explosion
came to the USA and other countries, sold from the Internet.
Methylone
soon became one of the ingredients used in the new synthetic bath salts
drug. This chemical has harmful effects. The intensity of the negative
effects of it is multiplied when blended with other dangerous
substances. Below is a list of side effects associated with methylone.
Euphoria/dysphoria,
mental stimulation, anxiolysis/anxiogenesis, insomnia, derealization,
hallucinations, hypertension, hyper-thermia, sweating, tachycardia,
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and psychotic episodes can be found in
methylone users.
Mephedrone (4-MMC) is an active ingredient
identified in the synthetic bath salts drug. This concentrate was banned
from use but can still be found in some of the alter egos of the drug.
It falls in the amphetamine and cathinone classes and is commonly
referred to as meph, drone, and M CAT. It is allegedly manufactured in
China and has compounds similar to those found in Khat plants found in
eastern Africa. The forms of this chemical include tablets and powders,
which can be snorted, swallowed, or injected with effects related to
cocaine and amphetamines.
Negative effects
Paranoia, erratic
and delusional behavior, troubles with short term memory, short
attention span, teeth grinding, depression, sweating, appetite loss,
increase in body temperature and heart rate, and difficulty breathing.
Nose bleeds and burns occur when snorting mephedrone. Under special
circumstances the user may suffer heart palpitations, blue fingers, and
seizures. This chemical found in the synthetic bath salts drug is also
highly addictive. The user may be prone to psychotic episodes with long
term abuse.
MD.P.V is a psycho-active drug with stimulant
properties. First created in 1969, it became an abused discovery when it
was sold as designer drugs. Some names for this chemical are Black Rob,
Magic, MTV, Super Coke, and Peeve. This substance is most commonly
found in the dangerous bath salts synthetic drug. Here are a list of
physiological and psychological side effects users may suffer below.
Rapid
heartbeat, high blood pressure, narrowed blood vessels, inability to
sleep, stomach cramps, increase in body temperature, chills, dilated
pupils, and headaches are common occurrences. Sometimes the user of
MD.P.V with experience severe paranoia, psychotic episodes, extreme
anxiety, renal failure, violent behavior, and suicidal thoughts and
actions. Long term use may lead to respiratory failure, liver failure,
and might end in seizures.