Effects of bath salts
Bath salts come in the form of a white or brown powder, or crystals that can be snorted, taken orally, smoked or put into a solution and injected. The powdered form is sold in packages with names like “bath salts,” “plant food,” “jewelry cleaner” or “phone screen cleaner” while being marked “not for human consumption.” When labeled this way, they are available online or in drug paraphernalia stores. This easy access has in part fueled the problem of bath salts abuse.
As is the case with amphetamines, cocaine and MDMA, bath salts boost dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure and well-being. As a result, users may experience a sense of euphoria when using synthetic cathinones as well as an increased sex drive and sociability. Their abuse has been associated with a number of physical and psychological effects, including:
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Combativeness
- Headaches
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hypertension
- Hyperthermia
- Panic attacks
- Acute psychosis
- Paranoia
- Violent behavior
Prolonged use of bath salts can be still more severe, including dehydration, a breakdown of muscle tissue attached to bones and kidney failure. Overdosing on these drugs can be fatal.
Bath salts addiction
Bath salts abuse and addiction have become a growing problem in recent years. Classified as Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), they have no currently accepted medical use and have a high potential for abuse and addiction liability.
Whenever one partakes in bath salts drug abuse, dopamine levels are being artificially raised; as a result, the brain begins to produce less of it. Consequently, users begins to crave for larger and more frequent doses. As soon as tolerance to the drug develops, they need to take more in order to achieve the desired effects, which can quickly develop into an addiction.
Additionally, if a person who is addicted to bath salts desires to stop the use, he/she will have to experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. The same can even happen while undergoing detox treatment. Following are some of the withdrawal effects of bath salts addiction:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Paranoia
- Problems with sleeping
- Extreme agitation
- Nausea
This is why a supervised detoxification treatment at certified bath salts detox centers is recommended to help ease the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and minimize the likelihood of a relapse.
Bath salts addiction treatment
In most cases, the treatment for baths salts will include bath salts detox treatment and therapy. Medically-supervised detox may be needed for those experiencing withdrawal symptoms to gradually remove the build-up of dangerous toxins from the user’s body. Once the detox program is successfully completed, he/she can move forward with the rest of the treatment, which will normally involve attending different types of behavioral therapies to address any underlying problems that may be fueling the addiction. These therapies also help the patients gain long-lasting tools to help them maintain their sobriety.