Bath salts

Bath salts, also called synthetic cathinones, are man-made stimulants that can cause extreme agitation, paranoia and psychotic episodes. A number of chemicals used to make bath salts are illegal, but manufacturers often find ways to circumvent law enforcement.

How do people use bath salts?

Users usually snort the drug up the nose, but it can also been injected, smoked, swallowed or used rectally. Toxic doses for the newer synthetic cathinones such as bath salts have not yet been determined⁹, and doses can be variable due to the illegal nature of the drug. There is a great risk for overdose because retail packages may contain up to 500 milligrams. If ingested orally, absorption is rapid with a peak “rush” at 1.5 hours, the effect lasting 3 to 4 hours, then a hard “crash”. The total experience may last upwards of 8 hours or longer.¹ Snorting and injecting the drug can be especially hazardous.