Does Your Teen Use or Abuse Bath Salts?

When Rudy Eugene, 31 also known as the “naked zombie”, was found naked eating the face of another man, Ronald Poppo, a 65 year old homeless man, bath salts was suspected as the drug Eugene was high on before the attack, but was later debunked from toxicology tests. After he refused to stop eating the man’s face, the police fatally shot him. Poppo is in a critical condition till date as the fleshy tissue around his goatee is the only skin left on his face.

There is a rising danger to the well being of our younger generation, our teenagers. It comes in the form of a pounded, crushed substance marketed as “bath salts."
It sounds nontoxic enough, doesn’t it? In spite of everything, who doesn’t want to loosen up in a nice warm bath? The alarming problem is, these bath salts are being taken orally and internally.
On February 1, 2011 a report entitled “DEA Names ‘Bath Salts’ Drug of Concern” on CBSNews.com. However, previously there have been no reports to Poison Control Centers of poisoning by this substance but throughout 2010, there were 236 reports coming from 33 different states.

The substance referred to as “bath salts” is in reality a drug called MDPV (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone) varied with Mephedrone. It is a synthetic amphetamine stimulant with effects is very similar to Methamphetamine.

There are many variants of this drug with a huge variance in constituents. It is boxed up and marked as an item to be added to bath water, but in reality, it is smoked, snorted or mixed with edibles or drinks.
Why is it called “bath salts”? This is a way for the manufacturers to transport the product to marketplace with no threat of immediate shut down by the DEA or the FDA. Bath salts are packaged in containers made similar to a legitimate bath salt and are marked “not for human consumption." It is packaged in small jars of only a few grams that sell for as much as $80, or in small bags of a half gram or so.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton said the drug increases the heart rate and raises blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke - CBS news reported. She also noted psychological effects including delusions, paranoia and psychosis.

This drug is swiftly making its way around the country mostly due to Internet sales. Several states have made it illegal, however it will need a federal law to have it selected as a schedule one drug.
Dr. Ashton assures that legislation is being prepared so that the substance can be prohibited. But until the investigation and research is done, it is available extensively as of 2012.
If you suspect your child is using this drug, you should take immediate action. There have previously been hundreds of cases of overdose from the drug accounted by hospitals around the country.
As there is no law over the production of these bath salts, the strength of one dosage is highly irregular and unpredictable. Moreover, the packaging doesn’t usually list any elements making it more dangerous to be ingested. The last line usually states that the substance is very dangerous if taken internally. Dr. Ashton explains it as “potentially life threatening.

Reference: http://temecula.patch.com/articles/how-to-tell-whether-your-child-uses-bath-salts-drug-miami-naked-zombie-eating-face-of-man-rudy-eugene-ronald-poppo