Basic Facts About Bath Salts

What are “Bath Salts?”

Powdered stimulants -- sold online, in gas stations and in drug paraphernalia stores as bath salts and plant food under names like "Ivory Wave" -- are said to produce highs like cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamines and go by the name “Bath Salts”. Active ingredients include 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (known as MPDV - a central nervous system stimulant) and mephedrone. These “bath salts” are not common brands, but instead specially-made powders that are sold in convenience stores and specialty shops in half-gram bottles for about $25 to $30.

How is the Drug Taken?

Users snort them, smoke them, or inject them like cocaine to experience euphoria.  They contain ingredients that are nothing more than legally sanctioned narcotics and they are being sold cheaply to all comers, with no questions asked, at store counters around the country. 

What are the Signs/Symptoms?

Patients are presenting with extreme paranoia, psychotic features (reporting seeing demons, monsters, foreign soldiers, or aliens), and sometimes violent behavior. Other symptoms include tachycardia, chest pain, confusion, high blood pressure, sweating, hyper-alertness, sleep depravation, agitation, extreme anxiety, hallucinations, teeth grinding/jaw clenching, compulsive water drinking, motor automatisms (compulsive repeated hand washing), tremors, and seizures. Symptoms may progress and include:   rapid destruction of skeletal muscle, renal failure, or liver failure. Several have remained symptomatic for 2-3 days.

What are Long Term Health Effects?

 Psychiatric symptoms may persist. Five patients have been transferred to long term psychiatric facilities because their symptoms weren’t improving.

What is the Pattern of Abuse?

 Most patients are experienced drug users/abusers who describe the experience as horrible. Some binge for 3-4 days and come in crashed. Ages have ranged from 15-61. Bath salts are snorted, ingested mixed with water, injected, or inserted rectally or vaginally. There is craving for more once the binge is over.

Is it Legal?

The ingredient mephedrone is a Schedule I drug in Michigan if present. MDPV is not scheduled. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the New Orleans area has confirmed that much of the supply is coming in from China. The DEA says that because MDPV is an analogue of a drug that is on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), "law enforcement cases involving MDPV can be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act of the CSA."

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) issued a nationwide warning about the dangers of legal synthetic drugs often marketed as bath salts while various states have moved to ban them.

The European Union, Australia, Canada, Israel, as well as several states -- Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, and West Virginia -- have already banned the substances or are considering legislation to do so. 

Should Cases be Reported?

Hospitals and health care providers are encouraged to report known or suspect cases to the Poison Center by calling 1-800-222-1222 or e-mail ssmolins@dmc.org.

Statewide Meth Tip Line - 1-866-METHTIP (866-638-4847)

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