What comes to mind when you hear the term bath salts? Bath salts are drugs made up of white or brown powder. People smoke or ingest them to get a feeling of euphoria. However, the popularity of bath salts has waned. In a recent study, only about 1.1% of the population reported using drugs. But, this may not reflect the true picture. Many people buy bath salts from unscrupulous dealers who market the drug as “molly,” a form of the drug ecstasy. So a greater number of users may be unknowingly consuming bath salts out there. Do these people know the dangers of bath salts that they happily consume? Oceanfront Recovery is here to teach about the dangers of bath salts and help patients seek the substance abuse treatment they need.
What Exactly Are Bath Salts?
Before we dwell on the dangers of bath salts, let’s familiarize ourselves with it. ‘Bath salts’ is the term or nickname used for synthetic cathinones. This is a drug belonging to the class of drugs which have one or more laboratory-made chemicals that is identical to cathinone.
Cathinone is an extract of the khat plant and has a similar makeup as methamphetamine or ecstasy. The common forms of cathinone present in bath salts include methylenedioxypyrovalerone, methylone, and mephedrone. These synthetic cathinones are much stronger than the natural extract; thus, they produce a stronger effect on the user.
People sell bath salts as substitutes for molly, especially if the drug has an abundance of methylone. There is no way to tell the quantity of these synthetic cathinones in a single tablet without a laboratory test. Therefore, it becomes easy for users to overdose on such drugs. Luckily, several addiction treatment programs can help them rediscover sobriety if they develop an addiction.
What If You Take Bath Salts?
Bath salts can produce temporary feelings of joy and enhanced sexual drive. But this is only in the short-term. Continuously using the drug changes how the brain functions. It alters the communication pattern of the brain. So, in essence, bath salts interfere with the normal functioning of the brain’s neurotransmitters.
Bath salts also raise the level of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for controlling reward and movement. The initial intake of bath salts will make the brain release this transmitter as a response. After some time, the brain begins to release the neurotransmitter because of cues or triggers associated with the bath salts.
Dangers of Bath Salts
Some adverse effects of using bath salts include:
- Jeopardizing your health. This is because the bath salts may contain other harmful chemicals that you do not know of. The production of bath salts usually takes place in an unregulated environment
- Developing an addiction. The addiction can make you experience bouts of paranoia and depression of you stop the drug use
- The development of insomnia, anxiety, and tremors after a long period of using the drugs
- Damage to the cardiovascular system
If you develop an addiction to bath salts, check yourself to a mental health treatment center. Professionals will help you recover with the utmost comfortability.
Treatment at Oceanfront Recovery
Oceanfront Recovery has several programs that can help you overcome your addiction. Besides, the center has therapies that will help change your mental state so that you make a quick recovery.
Some of their programs and centers include:
- Intensive outpatient program: The program allows you to participate in daily treatment without staying at the facility. It is flexible to enable you to continue with your daily activities as we treat you.
- Executive rehab center: This is a center that will enable you to get treatment discreetly. Through our confidentiality, we will ensure that only you know about your treatment appointments.
- Sober living homes: These homes are suitable for new recoverees. They eliminate all the potential temptations that can trigger your relapse.
- Dual diagnosis treatment program: Bath salts can trigger the development of other mental disorders. This program establishes if that is the case, and then it recommends treatment.
Addiction to bath salts can derail your progress in life. It also jeopardizes your health. If you are battling an addiction to bath salts or you know someone who is, reach out for help. You can get this help from a mental facility. Call Oceanfront Recovery today via 877.279.1777, and we will help you escape from the dangers of bath salts.
