Designer Drugs

Beware of the Bubbly

Benjamin Button said, “You never know what’s comin’;” He was right. I never would have guessed that criminal minds would put to market new designer drugs cleverly disguised as bath salts. I was not that surprised that smokable potpourri laced with synthetic marijuana was sold in smoke shops across the country. Sad, yes but not shocked. On the other hand, the newest over the counter mind-altering substance known as MDPV is marketed mainly as bath salts but is also marketed as pH optimizer, pond scum remover and odorizer. MDPV is related to cathinone, a compound found in Khat, a plant in Africa.

MDPV is similar to both a stimulant and hallucinogen and is very potent. It is usually smoked or snorted. Because it is entirely synthetic and new, we have very limited knowledge on its mechanism of action, effects, and long-term consequences. What we have so far, however, is alarming. Users experience a psychotic break from reality with hallucinations and paranoia much of the time. Anxiety, panic and addiction are also common. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: bath salts, designer drugs, drug addiction, drug rehab
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