A woman in Panama City, FL. claims that she violently attacked a monster in her living room—but the “monster” turned out to be her mother.
In Indianapolis, a 29-year-old woman leads squad cars on a wild chase before crashing and being removed from her car. She was discovered “incoherent, laughing uncontrollably and speaking nonsense.”
A Florida man is subdued by police, but not before he rips a radar unit out of the squad car with his teeth.
No, these stories aren’t from Stephen King novels or The Onion news network—these are real incidents. And what did they all have in common—Bath Salts.
Yes, you didn’t read that wrong—bath salts are the newest rage to hit the drug market.
Can Epsom Salts Make me High?
So is the Epsom salt I’m putting in my bathtub addictive?
No.
The designer drug I’m talking about is only packaged as “bath salts.” And until October of 2012, companies got away with legally marketing and selling the addictive drug by stamping “not for human consumption” on the package.
“You could find them in mini-marts and smoke shops sold as Ivory Wave, Bolivian Bath, and other names,” says emergency room doctor Zane Horowitz, “The people who make [bath salts] skirted the laws that made these types of things illegal.”
The synthetic powder was also sold legally online.
Thirty-three states banned the substances used to create bath salts before a federal law banned the key ingredients of the drug from America—in October. But the ban hasn’t stopped thousands of curious users from experimenting with bath salts over the past few months.
Labs in China predominantly create the drug—selling it to Americans through the internet and other secretive venues.
So what are “Bath Salts?”
- Severe Agitation
- Psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Violence
Snorted, shot up, mixed with food, injected or simply mixed with drinks—bath salt users know how to be creative when introducing the drug to their body.
Don’t mess with “Bath Salts!”
True stories like those used to introduce the post show the grim picture of bath salts in our American Culture. And the situation is worsening.
In 2011 the American Association of Poison Control Centers received more than 6,000 calls dealing with “bath salts”—a massive increase from the 300 cases reported in 2010.
Four reasons seem to drive the cause for such an incredible increase:
- Those who abuse bath salts compulsively seek repeated doses.
- Bath Salts cost as little as $25 for a 50-milligram packet.
- The drug appears innocent—advertised as Red Dove, Blue Silk, Vanilla Sky and Ivory Wave, many have been fooled by the “harmlessness” of the packaging.
- Public curiosity.
Get Help
If you or someone you know struggles with bath salt abuse, you should check out our treatment options or talk to a helpful Duffy’s representative today.
This is a serious issue, and isn’t one we can ignore.