What are bath salts?
Contrary to popular belief, you can not get high from Epsom salts you throw in your bath water. Bath salts are a street name for a recreational illicit drug mixture whose main addictive and chemical component is methylenedioxypyrovalerone or MDPV. Other chemical components are found in bath salts, but since the drug is not regulated and is sold illegally, every batch differs. Additionally, there is not much research on the addictive properties of these drugs since they are steadily changing. However, there has been research on the main component, MDPV proving that it acts similar to methamphetamine and is addictive much like a stimulant. Since bath salts have been found to have multiple different concoctions, the DEA has proclaimed a number of the drugs identified in bath salts to be classified as illegal schedule I drugs. This means they are recognized as having the potential for addiction and have no medicinal purpose.
Bath salts are known for their horrifying effects. One story in South Florida surfaced of a man high on bath salts eating the skin off of another man’s face. Another story that surfaced in Washington tells of a man and woman that were involved in a high-speed chase with the police ending in despair with the husband shooting his wife and himself. Later, their young child was found dead at their residence.
Just the come down from the high of bath salts is said to make an individual feel extremely anxious, flustered, and paranoid. Physical effects of bath salts include hallucinations, heart flutters, high blood pressure, and chest pains. Undoubtedly, the most terrifying side effect of this drug is the increased risk for a user to hurt themselves or others. The violence that stems from using bath salts is apparent in its use and should be cause enough to not try it, yet tragic stories still pop up about bath salt use in our country constantly.
