Bath Salts Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

What are Bath Salts?

First developed in the 1920s, bath salts grew into popularity as a stimulant option that is cheaper and more accessible than amphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy. They are made from synthetic cathinones, most commonly methylone, mephedrone, and methylenedioxypryovarlerone (MDPV for short). Because of how they are synthesized, these cathinones are far more potent and in turn dangerous than true cathinones. The natural form is derived from the khat plant and is relatively mild in effect.

The name “bath salts” stems from their appearance and the fact that drug dealers often sell it under the guise of a true bath salt to keep exchanges a secret. Real bath salts are meant to be added to water when bathing to give it the properties of a natural mineral bath or a hot spring. Fake bath salts have no practical use and are created purely for illegal recreational drug use. Bath salts, both normal and drug, have a granular or crystalline appearance. The color will vary based on ingredients.

When taken for recreational use, bath salts can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, or mixed with liquids for injection. Purer bath salts have psychoactive chemical compounds that mimic the feelings of taking cocaine, meth, and ecstasy, however due to the unregulated nature of bath salts, they are notorious for having other chemicals mixed in that can produce a wide range of unexpected and usually dangerous side effects.

People that use bath salts take them for a range of different reasons, but generally these are associated with social expectations (trying to fit in), stress (management or escapism), or psychological conditions like depression or trauma (to reduce distress). These reasons may cause a person to rely on bath salts even before a drug dependence can form.

Common Nicknames for Bath Salts

While “bath salts” is already a street name, since it has become better known, drug dealers and abusers have developed other nicknames to use when referring to the drug.

Some of the most common alternate street names include:

• Bliss

• Cloud Nine

• Ivory Wave

• Purple Wave

• White Lightning

• Vanilla Sky

 Other products with similar appearances to market under, such as:

• Phone screen cleaner

• Jewelry cleaner

• Plant food

How Addictive are Bath Salts?

Like all stimulants, bath salts present a risk of addiction to any person that decides to try them. The reason this risk exists is because of how bath salts impact the brain starting from the very first use. When taken, they increase the amount of pleasure chemicals, such as dopamine or serotonin, that the body produces. The body naturally creates these chemicals on its own in response to rewarding or enjoyable stimuli, but the amount prompted by bath salts is more than the central nervous system and brain are prepared to handle.

Over time, the body adapts to the drug’s presence, causing the drug to have less of an impact in smaller doses than it originally did. This is known as a person’s tolerance to the drug increasing and when this occurs, more must be taken to achieve the same effects. Habitual use completely rewires the pathways in the brain so that it comes to crave and expect the increased endorphin levels caused by bath salts. When this happens, a chemical dependency has formed and if cut off from the drug or not provided with ever increasing amounts, a person’s body will struggle to function properly, and they will experience withdrawal symptoms.

A few distinctive markers of this are high anxiety, nausea, or trembling until the next dose is taken. In a relatively short period of time, these symptoms can become so significant that a person may feel like they will die if they do not continue to take the drug.

Bath salts are particularly complicated because of the unusual substances that are used to manufacture them. The effects of these are often unpredictable, but in many cases can be expected to heighten the risk of addiction associated with bath salts, and in turn the negative symptoms of dependence and withdrawal.

Signs & Symptoms of Bath Salt Addiction 

While the complete list of symptoms a person can expect when taking bath salts will always vary thanks to the inconsistent nature of its production, there are some physical and psychological effects that they can expect to experience in all cases. A few of these feelings are the reasons why people take the drugs in the first place, but many are unwelcome extras. In the early stages of use one can expect:

The early stage effects are generally short-term, but as bath salt use progresses, some effects will shift into permanent alternative. For example, what starts as temporary erratic behavior may over time develop into psychosis and mood disorders.

Other long-term side effects that a bath salts user should expect include:

Those that choose to use bath salts intravenously are also at risk for other side effects since the process is rarely sanitary and the ingredients can impact veins and skin. These effects include:

• Vein blockage

• Skin erosion

• Infection where the injection took place

• Abscesses

• Gangrene

• Blood clots

• Increased risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne illnesses

Bath Salts Statistics

To have a better understanding of bath salts, it can be useful to look at some of the facts related to them. A few of the most notable include that:

• Between 2010 and 2011, poison control calls related to bath salts increased from 300 to over 6,000

• The bath salts cathinone MDPV increases dopamine levels to a point ten times higher than cocaine

• MDPV and similar bath salts are more habit forming than most other stimulants

• Individuals with a dependence have twice as high a chance to develop a psychological disorder

• Methylone, mephedrone, and MDPV are consider Schedule 1 stimulants by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

• Schedule 1 status means a drug is highly addictive, unsafe for use, and has no accepted medical use

• In a 2015 study by the American Journal of Addictions, 1% of high school seniors reported using bath salts

• Of that 1%, 1 in 5 had used bath salts at least 40 times in the last year

Treatment for Bath Salts Addiction

Because of the highly addictive properties of bath salts, treating a bath salt addiction should only be handled by professionals in a rehab facility. Otherwise, the addiction is extremely difficult to break away from and the attempt could even have potentially fatal consequences.

When an individual is admitted into a drug and alcohol rehab center, they can first expect to undergo a thorough evaluation by a medical and clinical team to assess the individual’s needs and construct the most conducive treatment plans.

Typically, treatment begins with detoxification, otherwise known as detox. During this stage of care, a licensed medical team will work to cleanse the body of all traces of bath salts and/or other substances. It is imperative to always seek the help of professionals during this phase, as detoxification can warrant a variety of withdrawal symptoms that can be potentially dangerous. When done so in a medical setting, physicians and nurses can properly monitor these symptoms and use various interventions, including medication, to mitigate symptoms and risk factors.

When the patient has completed detox, they will begin to transition into residential treatment, a phase of care that is essential to long-term sobriety. While in residential care, the patient will participate in a variety of therapeutic sessions and modalities, learning new, healthy ways to live a life without drugs or alcohol. Therapy will vary based on the individual’s personal needs, giving them the best chance of remaining drug free in the future. This can include anything from cognitive behavioral therapy, to mental health treatment, and life-skills training.

Because of how addictive bath salts are, recovery continues even after a patient has left rehab. Through continued follow-up and treatment, family therapy, support groups, and other necessary referral sources, they will be provided the proper tools for a better chance of a life…recovered.

Get Help Today for a Bath Salt Addiction

If you or someone you love is suffering from a bath salt addiction, there is no time to waste. Addiction is a cunning disease that keeps you in a state of denial, having you believe that you can control it or fix it on your own. There is nothing further from the truth. In order to break free from the grips of addiction, you will need the proper help, support and guidance from licensed professionals, as well as those that have been where you are.

At Brookdale, you will be welcomed with the love, dignity, and respect you deserve, as we offer you a way out of this cycle of addiction. Our trusted team will work closely with you to construct a treatment plan that is most conducive to YOUR recovery, giving you the best possible chance of life free from substance abuse.

For more information about Brookdale and our programs, please contact us today at 855-575-1292.