What Are Bath Salts?

"He's selling people this substance, which we know is deadly. Whether he knows what it is or not, he's advertising it as bath salts for human consumption and that creates a risk of death and that's proven. We've had overdose after overdose in Steuben County on this substance," said Baker. The New York Department of Health defines a synthetic drug as a substance that has properties similar to narcotics, or hallucinogens.

When you think of the word "drug" what comes to mind? Probably marijuana, cocaine, lsd, prescriptions but what about bath salts? When I first heard stories about people on bath salts my reaction was you have to be kidding right, but no first popping onto the radar of the DEA and poison control in 2010, this product is causing quite a stir in the United States. Mark Ryan from the LA poison control says in an interview on the Dr. Oz television show "that he has never seen a drug that has caused the problem as quickly and severely as this". Making local and national headlines as the new designer drug that is completely legal, for now at least, and very dangerous. It doesn't stop people from purchasing it and snorting, ingesting, injecting

Causing changes in mind and body such as seizures, delusions, vomiting and nausea, and even death and having bizarre effects on drug users recreational drugs called bath salts has become infamous. The drug is not only highly addictive it is also potent. Meth is one of the most addictive drugs on the market but research shows that bath salts could actually be more addictive.

Australian Crime Commission, 2013. Drug Analouges and Novel Substances, p, 2. Available from: < https://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/DRUG%20ANALOGUES%20AND%20NOVEL%20SUBSTANCES%20JULY%202013.pdf>. [25 May 2014]

Methamphetamine, (a synthetic drug with more rapid and lasting effects than amphetamine, use illegally as a stimulant and as a prescription drug to treat narcolepsy and maintain blood pressure) was develop from its parent drug, amphetamine, (a synthetic, addictive, mood-altering drug, use illegally as a stimulant and legally as a prescription drug to treat children with ADD and adults with narcolepsy) and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers (NIH, 2015). Meth is a dangerous and potent chemical and, as with all drugs, a poison that first acts as a stimulant, but then begins to systematically destroy the body, meth is a synthetic (man-made) chemical. Meth is commonly manufactured in illegal, hidden laboratories, mixing

“Meth is a very strong drug that attacks the central nervous system stimulant.” “The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission (“HOW METH DESTROYS.” 1) Meth is also potent an easy to make only thing you need is a few boxes of cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, red phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze are among the ingredients most commonly used. Longtime meth abuse causes brain damage, various oral cancers and oral infections, as well as psychotic behavior, and various skin conditions; it also decreases nerve sensitivity.

There are many substances in this world that are used and abused in order to achieve pleasing psychoactive effects. Two substances of such nature that are abused in today’s society are alcohol and LSD. Alcohol is a liquid that is derived from the fermentation of grains and/or fruit (7). LSD is an ingestible form of lysergic acid which is derived from a fungus called ergot. Both of these drugs are drastically different with minimal similarities, primarily because alcohol is classified as a depressant and LSD is classified as a hallucinogen. Even though these drugs differ in many ways, they are commonly used in unison.

Heroin is no longer being used in the medical field whereas; codeine, liquid morphine, pethidine, and methadone are still being found. In the 1970’s that is when scientists came across the real reasons why people were abusing the drug. Opiates are similar to endorphins, which are produced in the brain that help to relieve pain or fear. The chemicals form small chain peptides binding to form receptors in the brain. Heroin affects the brain by the “Opioid receptors are also located in the brainstem, which controls automatic processes critical for life, such as blood pressure, arousal, and respiration” (DrugFacts 2). Heroin is an organic and plant derived compound that is mixed with morphine, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride. The farmers drain the sap and boil it into sticky gum. After the gum is boiled, they use a water base with lime, ammonium chloride, activated charcoal, and hydrochloric acid. Once the product becomes dry it is in the shape of bricks. “The bricks are then sent to other secret laboratories that mix the morphine with acetic anhydride, more activated charcoal, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)” (Bigelow 5). The particles sit in water and after drying is treated with hydrochloric acid which produces a white powder. The product is never just pure heroin, but contains water-soluble substances, sugar, painkillers, baking soda, powdered milk, and talcum powder. Since the heroin is broken down it decreases the purity and the dealer has more of a supply. A “Tar heroin” is produced in Mexico, Central America, and South America, which is a black sticky substance with an odor of

It also offers a solution to the ongoing and increasingly common pharmaceutical opiate addiction problem, and addresses concerns about the social safety of the plant. Though readers with a higher education and/or degree in associated fields may understand more vocabulary and references, anyone who reads the article will acquire a basic understanding of its’ contents.

The most dangerous drug to me is called flak ka word on the street is that Flakka (also called gravel or flock) is a combination of heroin and crack, or heroin and methamphetamines, but in the real world, Flakka is just a newer­generation version of bath salts. each time one type of bath salt is made illegal, the drug labs change the chemical structure slightly and a new drug that is technically not illegal is created. the chemical that in this drug is called alpha­PVP. and what make it so bad the individuals that take this drug has very bad, behavior problems it's so bad that the rescue crews and emergency department staff need to give sedatives to these patients to calm them and make them safe even a slight overdose.Since 6/1/ 2014,

Americans used for medicinal purposes that can also have a hallucinogenic affect on those that ingest

"Bath salts" is the common name for a group of drugs called synthetic cathinones. These are drugs made of chemicals from a plant (khat). They may be sold as pills, crystals, or a powder that is white, tan, or brown. There is no medical use for bath salts. They are designed to have the same effects as cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines without being illegal (designer drugs). They work by stimulating the release of a certain brain chemical (dopamine). A high level of dopamine in the brain can cause high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and seizures.

The main uses of kratom for why people have chosen this lesser potent option over opiate medications consist of analgesic pain relief, mild stimulant, anti-diarrhea properties, and opiate addiction treatment. With the abundant alkaloid content of kratom, the most significant psychoactive ingredients are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The former being an opioid agonist acts similarly with true opiates like heroin among others. The difference between the mitragynine compound and opiates is that the latter is attracted more to the mu-opioid receptors in the brain, while mitragynine prefers the delta-opioid receptors. The ingredients that attach to each specific type of receptors present opposite effects.

There are many different forms of stimulant which have been created to mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy (See appendix B). As they cannot be sold for human consumption they are often sold as incense, bath salts or plant food to avoid breaking the law and can be found online or in many high street shops (Talktofrank.com, 2015). They are often produced in China and India and then imported to be packaged and sold as ‘legal highs’ (EMCDDA, 2015). The contents of NPS can vary greatly and the person taking the substance can never be 100% sure that what they are taking and the effects they could have. It is often found that many NPS do in fact contain illegal substances and so being in possession of these in an offence. The police have the power to confiscate any NPS in your possession for testing detain you and potentially arrest you (Know the Score, 2015).

The importance of this herb is immense in the rehab community. Some of the active chemicals in Kratom are mu opioid antagonist, much like suboxene. The importance of this is it