Bath salts are a synthetic drug among a group called new psychoactive substances. Their effects are similar to the effects of amphetamine and ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA).They give you a “high” that affects how you see others and the world around you.
The scientific name for the drug commonly known as bath salts is synthetic cathinones. In order to hide these illegal drugs, they're usually labeled as bath salt and can be similar in appearance to salts you'd add to a bath. Unlike Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, or other types of salts you might use in your bath, bath salts are a powerful drug with dangerous side effects.
Bath salts are not approved for any medical use. Risks from using them include liver failure, mental illness, and even death.
Where Do Bath Salts Come From?
Cathinone comes from a plant called khat, found in East Africa and southern Arabia. You can chew the leaves of the khat plant to get a mild stimulant effect. The human-made version of cathinone in bath salts is stronger and more dangerous.
Bath salts are sometimes used as a cheap substitute for stimulants such as cocaine. Research shows that one common synthetic cathinone, called 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), is 10 times stronger than cocaine.
Drug effects can include a brief boost in energy and mood, as well as unusually friendly behavior toward others.
Where Does the Name Bath Salts Come From?
Bath salts (synthetic cathinones) look and feel a lot like Epsom salts.
People often sell bath salts on the internet. In its purest form, the drug is a light brown or white crystallized powder. It usually comes in plastic bags or foil labeled as bath salts, glass cleaner, or even plant food. Sellers do this to confuse law enforcement.
The drug doesn’t contain any ingredients from bathwater products.
Synthetic cathinones have other street names, including:
- Stardust
- Vanilla sky
- Ocean burst
- Blizzard
- Pure ivory
- Bath powder
How Do People Use Bath Salts?
You can buy the powder in the form of capsules or tablets that you can swallow. Some people also:
- Snort it
- Smoke it
- Inject it as a liquid
- Dissolve and swallow it as a liquid
Snorting and injecting bath salts are the most dangerous methods. People who use the drug this way are more likely to overdose.
Bath Salts Drug Effects
The effects of bath salts can be felt very quickly, within minutes, and can be felt for several hours. They can be short term or longer lasting.
What are the short-term psychological side effects?
- Depression
- Delirium
- Psychosis
- Thoughts of suicide
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there)
- Irritability and aggression
What are the physical effects of bath salts?
- Nosebleeds
- Nausea
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Loss of muscle control
- High blood pressure and heart rate
- Headaches
- Teeth grinding
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Eyes staying wide for a long time (prolonged pupil dilation)
- Palpitations
- Sweating
- Heart attack
How Long Do the Effects of Bath Salts Last?
On average, the effects of bath salts last three to four hours. You can have what is called “excited delirium.” If you have this, you will get dehydrated, your muscle tissue will begin to break down, and your kidneys may stop working.
If you use bath salts for a long time, you can become suspicious (paranoid) of others.
Even if it’s your first time using bath salts, you could die from an overdose.
Can You Get Addicted to Bath Salts?
It’s easy to get addicted to bath salts. You can get intense withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them, which makes it hard not to use again.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
Is There Treatment for Addiction to Bath Salts?
Bath salt overuse can be treated with behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy.
There are no approved medications that treat addiction to synthetic cathinones.
Reach out to your doctor or therapist to learn what resources are available for you.
Takeaways
Also called synthetic cathinones (scientific name), bath salts are stimulants that can be injected, swallowed, or snorted. They can appear as a crystal, powder, or tablet. Bath salts can have very dangerous side effects, such as seizures and overdosing. Mixing them with other drugs or alcohol can be even more dangerous. Treatment programs, medications, and withdrawal therapy are treatment options for people with an addiction to bath salts.
Bath Salts Harm Reduction
It’s never a good idea to take an illegal drug. When you buy a street drug, you never know exactly what’s in it.
There is no “safe” way to use bath salts, but there are precautions you can take to keep them from becoming more dangerous, including:
Keep yourself hydrated. This is very important because bath salts cause dehydration. Drink plenty of water before and during your time on the drug.
Don’t do it alone. Be around friends you trust. You’ll need at least one person who will stay drug-free during the session. They’ll need to call for help if a problem happens.
Avoid snorting or injecting the drug. Taking the drug in the form of capsules or tablets is less dangerous than snorting or injecting it.
Speak up if you feel sick. If you feel sick or like something is wrong, get immediate medical help. Call 911 if you have any loss of muscle control, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, or if you or someone you know overdoses.
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts while using bath salts, call or text 988 (the national suicide hotline). You can also chat with someone at www.988lifeline.org.
Bath Salt Drugs FAQs
What do bath salt drugs look like?
Bath salt drugs look like Epsom salts used in baths for pain relief of your muscles or joints. The drugs can be in powder or crystal form. They can be white or brown in color.
Do bath salts show up on a drug screen?
Yes, bath salt use can show up on a drug test if the option to test for these drugs specifically is included on the panel for testing. Routine drug screenings, however, will not detect bath salts.
Is it safe to mix bath salts with alcohol?
No, it’s not safe to mix bath salts and drinking alcohol. Bath salts are a stimulant, causing a feeling of being energized. Alcohol is a sedative. Stimulants can mask the effects of alcohol. So if you take alcohol with bath salts, it may cause you to drink more than you realize.
