Legal drug Bath Salts calling poison control

Poison control got a little more busy this year because of a new, legal drug called Bath Salts.

Not to be confused with salts put into the bath for relaxation, Bath Salts are a particularly nasty drug which is either snorted, smoked or injected.  The side effects included symptoms such as chest pain, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, stroke and seizure, and the hallucinations are considered some of the worst in the drug world, with effects such as delusions, paranoia and suicidal tendencies.

One would think that a drug as undesirable as this would wain in popularity, but spread about through the club scene, users are becoming more numerous due to its addictive nature and its legality.

In fact, Bath Salts are quickly becoming a big issue for poison control.  In 2009, there wasn’t a single call to poison control in regards to the drug, but in 2010 there were 240 cases, and in the first few months of 2011 there have already been about 250 cases.

Sold online and through smoke shops, the drug has caught the attention of law makers who are banning the drug across the country.

However, new drugs such as this will likely appear to take its place once Bath Salts are make illegal for good.  Last year alone, many states banned up to five chemicals used to produce synthetic marijuana, called K2 or spice.

Who knows how many chemicals will be made this year?

To learn more, check out our Bath Salts Drug Index

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S. Cody Barrus , Senior Managing Editor