Testing It Up

In a previous post, we shared the concern expressed by authorities over the abuse of bath salts, and reported that lawmakers in Mississippi and Kentucky were getting ready to take action by banning the sale of these powders, and that it has been outlawed in the state of Louisiana.

Another report on the Los Angeles Times talks about the growing concern of authorities over these little packets of powder, as these synthetic stimulants are essentially legal in the United States. Despite the fact that they are, strictly speaking, being marketed as bath salts, they are actually destined for abusers who would like to experience the effects of cocaine or methamphetamine use – legally. And while these bath salts are able to achieve this, they also present the same risks to its users (and abusers) as its illegal counterparts.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers revealed that revealed that poison control centers across the country fielded 235 “bath salts”- related calls last year, and have seen 214 cases so far this year. While there were no statistics presented, there were reports of deaths due to overdose, drug-induced suicides, or accidents, which could be attributed to the abuse of bath salts.

A few states have already taken action, by outlawing active ingredients present in the bath salts: methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and mephedrone, according to the LA Times. Aside from Louisiana, Florida, North Dakota, and Huntington, West Virginia, have outlawed the chemicals.

MDPV and mephedrone are listed as chemicals of concern by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and are legal at the federal level. Barbara Carreno, spokeswoman for the DEA, said: “At this point, we don’t have the numbers to justify scheduling them; we’re just looking at them.”

Florida Drug Screening

Over time, the substances that are available for abuse seems to have increased, and we have seen the occurrence of abuse involving otherwise legal substances. A report on the Chicago Sun-Times shares one such substance: bath salts that are ingested to induce hallucinations.

These chemical powders labeled as bath salts are being sold under such names as Ivory Wave, Bliss, White Lightning and Hurricane Charlie, according to the report. Authorities say that they can bring about hallucinations and cause paranoia, rapid heart rates, and suicidal thoughts.

The powders usually contain the stimulants mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV. Users who abuse the substance snort, inject, or smoke the powders, which are reportedly available in small packets that can cost as low as $20. They can be bought legally from convenience stores, and on the Internet.

The Sun-Times shared the case of Neil Brown, who cut his face with a knife while hallucinating after he had ingested bath salts.

Lawmakers in the states of Mississippi and Kentucky are said to be looking into the possibility of banning the sale of these powders. It has already been outlawed via an emergency order in the state of Louisiana, a move prompted by the number of calls received by the state poison center, which could be associated with abusing the substance. In the last three months of 2010, the Louisiana poison center had received more than 125 calls due to exposure to the chemicals.

Unfortunately, the Sun-Times reported that these stimulants are not regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and it could take years before they could be restricted, according to DEA executive assistant Gary Boggs.

Chicago Health Screening