They sound harmless. They are not.
Bath salts captured national attention recently after the gruesome incident in Miami where a man, believed to be under their influence, ate most of a homeless man’s face.
The incident placed bath salts on the spotlight making people wonder what exactly these drugs are.
Bath salts are not the traditional cosmetic bath salts, which are packaged and sold for adding to bath water for soaking and cleaning.
These synthetic drugs contain manmade chemicals and mimic the effects of potent stimulants such as cocaine, LSD, and meth.
The drugs, which are ingested, inhaled, or injected, are highly addictive and known to cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, extreme paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and violent behavior, leading some users to harm themselves or others.
These products can contain stimulant compounds such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone.
“The chemicals in synthetic drugs known as bath salts have no legitimate use and are solely intended for substance abuse,” said Susan Bower, behavioral health operations director for the County Health and Human Services Agency.
She added County treatment centers have not seen an influx of clients coming in for help because of bath salts. However, she indicated, this does not mean people are not abusing them.
“Like most emerging drugs, we often don’t see them in treatment as a primary issue for quite some time after they get noticed in the community,” Bower said.
Where these synthetic drugs have appeared is at emergency rooms and poison control centers across the country and, in the worst cases, at Medical Examiners’ offices.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 304 calls were received in 2010. By last year, the number had increased by 20 times, reaching 6,138.
The County Medical Examiner’s Officer routine screening for drugs of abuse can detect the most common types of bath salts.
“We have seen a few deaths that were related to bath salts. We had three in 2011 and none in previous years,” said Dr. Jonathan Lucas, Deputy Medical Examiner.
Bath salt products appear to originate overseas and are being manufactured without quality controls or oversight. They are sold as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “Bliss” and called plant food, jewelry cleaner, or potpourri.
Federal, state and local governments have adopted or are working on policies and legislation to combat this threat, and to educate people about the dangers associated with bath salts and other new, manmade drugs, including spice or synthetic marijuana.
In California, the sale of bath salts and spice became illegal in October of 2011. Locally, the County adopted an ordinance declaring these types of drugs a public nuisance and making stores that sell them in unincorporated areas subject to civil abatement actions. However, some smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations continued to sell them. People can also get them online.
“We must continue to be vigilant about this growing and dangerous problem,” Bower concluded.
People suffering from a substance abuse problem can get help by calling the County’s Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240.
