Substance Use Disorder Bath Salts – How Dangerous?

“Bath salts” is the common name for a group of drugs called synthetic cathinones. These are drugs that are 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.

Bath salts are dangerous and very addictive. Using bath salts can lead to a substance use disorder. Substance use disorder happens when your repeated use of drugs interferes with your ability to be productive.

This disorder can cause problems with your mental and physical health. It can affect your ability to have healthy relationships, and it can keep you from being able to meet your responsibilities at work, home, or school. It can also lead to addiction.

What are the causes?

A bath salts substance use disorder is caused by using too many bath salts. It may also develop due to social, psychological, or physical reasons, such as:

• Stress.
• Abuse.
• Peer pressure.
• Anxiety.
• Depression.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in people who:

• Are teenagers.
• Use other stimulant drugs.
• Experience stress.
• Have been abused.
• Have a mental health disorder, such as depression.
• Are born with certain genes.

What are the signs or symptoms?

You may have symptoms of bath salts intoxication or bath salts substance use disorder.

Bath Salts Intoxication

• High blood pressure.
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
• Anxiety and agitation.
• Seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations).
• Expressing odd, unrealistic, or false beliefs, such as a belief about being someone else (delusions).
• Muscle spasms and twitches.
• Headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Chest pain.
• Seizures.

Bath Salts Substance Use Disorder

• Using bath salts for increasingly long periods of time.
• Having a lasting desire to use bath salts.
• Being unable to reduce or stop your use of bath salts.
• Spending an abnormal amount of time seeking bath salts, using bath salts, or recovering from using bath salts.
• Craving bath salts.
• Bath salts use that:
  • Interferes with your work, school, or home life.
  • Interferes with your personal and social relationships.
  • Makes you give up activities that you once enjoyed or found important.
• Using bath salts even though:
  • You know it is dangerous or bad for your health.
  • You know it is causing problems in your life.
• Needing more and more bath salts to get the same effect (developing tolerance).
• Experiencing physical symptoms if you do not use bath salts (withdrawal).
• Using bath salts to avoid withdrawal.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your history of substance use.
• The way in which substance abuse affects your life.
• Your symptoms. You may be diagnosed with substance use disorder if you have at least two symptoms of substance use disorder within a 12-month period.
• Blood tests.
• A physical exam. During the physical exam, your health care provider may check for:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Rapid pulse.
  • Muscle tension and increased reflexes.
  • Confusion and agitation.
  • Other symptoms of bath salts use.

How is this treated?

The immediate goal of treatment is to stop your bath salts use. This must be done safely. This may involve:

• Giving you medicine to stabilize your condition and lower your risk for seizures (benzodiazepine).
• Observing you closely for at least 3–4 hours while the effects of bath salts wear off.
• Restraining you so that you do not hurt yourself.

After you have safely stopped using bath salts, treatment may include:

• Group and individual counseling from mental health providers who have experience with substance use disorder. This may involve:
  • Staying at a residential treatment center for several days or weeks.
  • Attending daily counseling sessions at a treatment center.
• Taking medicines as told by your health care provider:
  • To ease symptoms and prevent complications during withdrawal.
  • To treat other mental health issues.
  • To block cravings.
  • To reduce agitation.
• Going to a support group to share your experience with others who are going through the same thing.

Recovery can be a long process. Some people who undergo treatment start using bath salts again after stopping. This is called a relapse. If you have a relapse, that does not mean that treatment will not work.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not use any drugs or alcohol.
• Do not use designer drugs or stimulants that are sold as a safe or legal alternative to illegal drugs.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until your health care provider approves.
• Avoid people and activities that trigger your bath salts use.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. This includes following up with therapists, substance abuse treatment, and support groups.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You cannot take your medicines as told.
• Your symptoms get worse.
• You have trouble resisting the urge to use bath salts.
• You continue to use bath salts.
• You start to use other drugs.

Get help right away if:

• You develop severe chest pain.
• You develop shortness of breath.
• You suddenly become very agitated.
• You have:
  • A seizure.
  • Difficulty seeing, hearing, or speaking.
  • Serious thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
  • A relapse.