“Bath salts” includes the name provided to a category of drugs which have more than one manmade chemical associated with cathinone. Cathinone includes an amphetamine-like stimulant naturally found inside the khat plant. They’re chemically similar to additional amphetamines like methamphetamine and to MDMA (Molly or Ecstasy). Typical manmade cathinones discovered in bath salts include MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), “Meph,” “Drone,” or “Meow Meow”) (mephedrone), as well as methylone, yet there will include many other ones.
Usually, bath salts are a crystal-like powder of a brown or white color and are sold inside small foil or plastic packages that are labeled “Not for Human Consumption.” Occasionally, labeled as a “plant food”—or, lately, as “phone screen cleaner” or “jewelry cleaner”—they’re sold on the Internet and inside drug product shops. These descriptions or names have nothing to do with the actual product. It is a way for drug manufacturers to avoid being detected by the local police or Drug Enforcement Administration.
The manmade cathinone items sold as “bath salts” shouldn’t be confused with Epsom salts (original bath salts), designed of a mineral mix of sulfate and magnesium and are added to water in the bathtub to assist in easing stress and relaxing muscles.
Usage of bath salts occasionally causes serious intoxication and harmful health effects. Also, there are reports of individuals becoming psychotic and violent. Even though it’s rare, there’ve been many cases in which bath salts have been the actual cause of death.
Banning of Bath Salts
At the completion of the past decade, bath salts started to gain popularity in Europe and the U.S. as “legal highs.” In October of 2011, the DEA placed an emergency ban upon three typical manmade cathinones until the authorities became more familiar with them. In July of 2012, President Obama signed legislation that permanently made two of them—MDPV and mephedrone—illegal, alongside many additional manmade drugs oftentimes sold as cannabus substitutes (such as Spice).
