“Bath Salts”
“Bath Salts” is the name used for a group of substances that contain amphetamine-type properties. Most varieties contain either methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or mephedrone; they also may contain: pyrovalerone, methylone and/or high levels of caffeine. MDPV and mephedrone are both related to khat, an organic stimulant found in the Middle East and East African countries. Khat is illegal in Canada because it contains cathinone, a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)).
These mixtures are commonly referred to as bath salts because they often look like sugar or regular bath salts; however they definitely are not the common bath salts that are sold at the local aromatherapy or beauty product store. Because bath salts are a mixture of several drugs, there’s no way to know exactly what is in it – which can make them very dangerous, and even lethal in some cases. Users typically swallow (tablets), snort, smoke or inject bath salts, and experience effects similar to the kind of high users get using amphetamines (Health Canada).
Facts
- Canadian police say bath salts mixtures have hit the streets here in Canada and their popularity is on the rise, particularly in the maritimes (CCSA);
- Methylenedioxypyrovalerone was first developed in 1969 but did not become a popular stimulant until around 2004, when it was reportedly sold as a designer drug (*Wikipedia).
Street Names
Bath Salts, Ivory wave, Vanilla sky, Cloud 9, Bolivian Bath, PV, Peeve
Side Effects
Like other stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine, bath salts initially give a feeling of euphoria and power to its users. For example, consumers do not feel fatigue, hunger, or pain. However, this feeling of being invincible later turns into general discomfort (high blood pressure, insomnia, stomach cramps and digestive problems, headache, dizziness, etc.) and even more unwanted effects, including:
- Severe paranoia;
- Increased body temperature (ex. extreme sweating);
- Confusion or vivid hallucinations;
- Psychotic delusions;
- Extreme anxiety (that can lead to violent behavior);
- Hostility or aggression;
- Panic attacks;
- Suicidal thoughts or actions (*Wikipedia).
Laws
Several of the substances that are found in bath salts (such as mephedrone and methylone) are regulated. Also, it was announced on June 5th, 2012 that MDPV will be listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possibly by Fall 2012. This will make possession, trafficking, importing, exporting, and production of MDPV (or any mixtures containing MDPV or other regulated substances like mephedrone and methylone) illegal in Canada (Health Canada).
What you can do
If you or someone you know is using bath salts, talk to an adult you trust or call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you think someone might be under the influence of bath salts or MDPV, do not hesitate to call emergency services, it could save someone’s life.
Links
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA): CCENDU Drug Alerts: Bath Salts
Health Canada: Street Drug “Bath Salts”
*Wikipedia: Methylenedioxypyrovalerone
*Note: Although DEAL.org uses Wikipedia as a source, it should be known that the Wikipedia website is an open-source. This means anyone can edit the information and it is not guaranteed to be reliable and should only be used for general background information on topics, and not detailed and extensive information.
