Before you throw out your favorite bath enhancement or cancel your subscription to the spa, read the following information provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (www.dea.gov/).
In the last couple of years a new designer drug with a benign name, “bath salts,” has surfaced as an extremely dangerous stimulant that affects users like cocaine or meth do. State officials are beginning to report deaths directly related to its use. Recently, Poison Control Centers in 33 states have reported incidents related to “bath salts” use.
One of the major problems with this designer drug is the benign name that makes customers avoid legitimate spas and their own bath time pleasure. The truth is that legitimate bath salts and spas are not related to this drug invasion and this designer drug has no real value as a legitimate bath salt.
According to the DEA, this illegal, recreational drug was introduced to the United States about two years ago. It is typically snorted in powder or swallowed in pill form. Some smoke it or inject it intravenously. Its effect on the users body is similar to the high from using Ecstasy and other stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines
The list of life-threatening effects:
- Psychotic episodes
- Delusions
- Panic attacks
- Increased heart rate
- Heart attacks
- Chest pains
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Strokes
And:
- Death
- Suicide
- Homicide
- Self-inflicted wounds
- Child endangerment
The major manufacturing and exporting companies responsible for creating “bath salts” are located in China and India. They typically mislabel the product to evade detection and use the Internet to sell it to distributors around the world, including the United States. Commonly “bath salts” are sold in head shops, gas stations and convenience stores. They are also available in dance clubs and “raves,” selling for $40 to $100 per gram. A gram can cover approximately eight to 40 doses.
This dangerous drug has several branded, street names: “Aura,” “Ivory Wave,” “Russian River,” “Xtreme,” “Goodfellas” and several others, depending on the location. One trick the sellers use is to label the drug “not for human consumption” to avoid the federal narcotics laws.
“Spice” and “K-2” are also becoming popular and are dangerous designer drugs that can cause convulsions, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. “Spice” and “K-2” are synthetic marijuana and the incidences of severe overdoses are increasing in emergency rooms.
These synthetic drugs are legal in most states right now, but that doesn’t mean they are safe. (Source: DEA) One thing that users of these designer drugs often forget is that you do not know what is in them.
Sadly, in today’s world, you, the parents, need to stay ahead of the many opportunities for disaster that your children face every day.
