They're sold online, in gas stations and in head shops, marketed as "bath salts." But they're definitely not for relaxing in the tub.
The so-called "salts" are actually drugs laced with dangerous chemicals including Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MPDV, a chemical that is not approved for medical use in the United States, and a growing number of people are snorting or injecting them looking to get high.
Dangerous substance
But instead of getting buzzed, they are ending up in emergency rooms with serious health problems like high blood pressure, increased heart rate, agitation, hallucinations, extreme paranoia and delusions.
"We are incredibly concerned about the extreme paranoia being reported by people who are taking these drugs," said Mark Ryan, director of the Louisiana Poison Center.
He said the products are being touted as cocaine substitutes and are causing intense cravings akin to methamphetamine use. Ryan also worries the paranoia could cause those experimenting with the drugs to harm themselves or others.
Growing problem
As of Dec. 21, the Louisiana center alone has handled 85 cases. Nationally, these substances have spurred at least 156 calls to U.S. poison centers as of Dec. 21.
Henry A. Spiller, director of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center, said the patients his center has treated "are having a break with reality" and "have completely lost it."
"We are seeing a definite increase in reports about these products," said Alvin C. Bronstein, medical director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center and the acting director of toxicosurveillance for the American Association of Poison Control Centers. "This is an emerging health threat that needs to be taken seriously."
Help available
Jim Hirt, executive director of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, said poison centers are ready to answer questions about bath salts or any other product that could pose harm to users.
"Poison centers are staffed with medical professionals who are trained to know how to treat a poison exposure," he said. "AAPCC runs the National Poison Data System, which monitors poison center data and can help health officials monitor emerging health threats such as this one."
AAPCC supports the nation's poison control centers, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and offer free and confidential services.
For questions about poison or poison prevention, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
