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Treatment for Bath Salts Addiction

Synthetic cathinones, commonly called “bath salts,” are man-made stimulants created to mimic the effects of cocaine and other stimulants. The non-synthetic cathinones are found in the khat plant, and according to DrugAbuse.gov, the man-made stimulant can be much stronger and more dangerous. Bath salts are categorized as a “new psychoactive substance” or NPS because of its high potential for abuse and no known medical use.

According to DrugAbuse.gov, 0.9% of eighth graders, 0.5% of tenth graders, and 0.6% of twelfth graders have used bath salts in 2017. In addition, there have been thousands of reports of emergency room visits due to the health effects of consumption and even deaths from bath salts overdoses.

If you or a loved one are suffering from a bath salts addiction or synthetic cathinones addiction, there is hope for recovery. The Phoenix Recovery Center provides treatment and support for bath salts addiction to help patients overcome their addiction and find purpose in life. Read on to learn more about bath salts addiction and the treatment options available at The Phoenix.

bath salts addiction treatment utah

What are Bath Salts?

What is a bath salt? Drug names may vary, but bath salts are synthetic cathinones based on the naturally occurring cathinone found in the leaves of the khat plant. Khat is a shrub found in East Africa and Southern Arabia, and for many years, people have chewed the leaves for a mild-stimulant effect, according to DrugAbuse.gov. Though the khat leaves seem to produce only mild-stimulant effects, the synthetic cathinones or bath salts are very dangerous and have a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Synthetic cathinones are usually a white or brown crystalline powder, which makes it appear like salt. The drug is most commonly referred to as “bath salts” because of its physical resemblance to Epsom salts, but the chemical make-up of these products used for bathing have no relation to the drug.

The majority of people ingest the drug by swallowing or snorting the powder. According to CampusDrugPrevention.gov, others will smoke the powder or add the powder to a solution and inject it. The powder can also be added into a gel capsule and taken as a pill. Snorting or injecting the drug is reported to be the most harmful, according to TeenDrugAbuse.gov.

Bath Salts Street Names

“Bath salts” is technically a street name for synthetic cathinones, but there are many other street names for the drug. A few other street names include the following:

  • Bloom
  • Cloud 9
  • Drone
  • Energy-1
  • Meow Meow
  • Pure Ivory
  • Scarface
  • Vanilla Sky
  • White Lightning
  • Zoom

To avoid detection for producing illegal drugs, manufacturers will label bath salts several different names that do not describe the actual contents of the package. According to DrugAbuse.gov, the packages usually read bath salts, plant food, jewelry cleaner, or phone screen cleaner and are marked as not fit for human consumption.

Bath Salts Drug Types

Bath salts drugs are man-made stimulants, so there can be variation in make-up of the drug, but the bath salts drug will usually contain MDPV or mephedrone. According to TeensDrugAbuse.gov, the drug began to gain popularity in 2011, and President Barack Obama outlawed mephedrone and MDPV to combat the high abuse of the substances in drugs such as bath salts. The bath salts containing MDPV are illegal, but the substance is still used regularly.

Because the MDPV and mephedrone found in bath salts are illegal, some manufacturers have been altering the chemical construction to attempt to avoid legal ramifications. Many manufacturers have developed new types of bath salts that evade the law, but these types of other bath salts are still harmful and addictive.

Bath Salts Effects

The main effects of bath salts are:

  • Paranoia & Hallucinations
  • Insomnia
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability
  • Increased friendliness
  • Increased sex drive
  • Muscle tissue breakdown
  • Sweating & Rapid heart rate
  • Nausea & Vomiting
  • Euphoria
  • Delirium

The more harmful bath salts effects are seizures, prolonged panic attacks, stroke or heart attack, muscle tissue in the bloodstream, and death. These serious health effects can be symptoms of a bath salts overdose.

If you believe someone is suffering from an overdose, call 911 or the toll-free poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222

There is a need for more research on the long-term effects of bath salts. According to DrugAbuse.gov, the balt salts ingredient MDPV has been shown to have similar effects to cocaine, only ten times stronger, so it is believed that the long-term effects are similar to those of other stimulants such as cocaine.

Bath Salts Addiction and Withdrawal Symptoms

Bath salts raise the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine and induce a sense of pleasure. According to TeenDrugAbuse.gov, people who have used bath salts once have reported a strong urge to use the drug again. Bath salts drug abuse causes a neural flood of pleasure that causes many to continue to seek out the drug and become dependent on it, resulting in addiction.

When someone addicted to bath salts stops using for a period of detox, they may experience withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal include depression, anxiety, tremors, increased paranoia, and sleeping trouble.

What is Bath Salts Addiction Treatment and What Does That Look Like at PRC?

The Phoenix Recovery Center offers therapy, rehab, and treatment for those who struggle with bath salts or synthetic cathinone abuse and bath salts addiction. Our services and treatments for bath salts addiction include an Inpatient Residential ProgramPartial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Day ProgramIntensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and General Outpatient Program (GOP).

The Phoenix Recovery Experience

Phoenix Recovery Experience

Patients and families who engage in The Phoenix recovery experience through our continuum of care, learn and develop both recovery and disease management skills. Moreover, patients and family members begin to identify, define, and achieve stability in their pursuit of a meaningful life. As a result, self-confidence embodies the emotional and cognitive condition of our patients and family members. Patients and their family members enjoy relationships that begin to be healed. They also celebrate the fact that dreams are being redefined through realistic applied behaviors that are motivated by meaning pursuits supported by recovery based support systems.

WHY CHOOSE US?

The Phoenix Difference

The Phoenix Difference constitutes a carefully tailored program and recovery experience defined by research. Every effort is directed at supporting outcomes that prepare patients and their families with both the knowledge and applied behaviors to manage mental health disorders and to reclaim a meaningful life.

Furthermore, The Phoenix Recovery Center is driven by the guiding mission statement: “Empowering individuals and families suffering from addiction and mental health disorders, to celebrate life through lasting solutions.” We accomplish the therapeutic and healing experience through a continuum of care that begins with Residential Treatment and traverses across a Day Program, Intensive Outpatient (IOP), to General Outpatient (GOP). Lastly, the continuum of care culminates in a weekly Alumni Support Meeting, which provides a recovery support community to sustain the recovery capital of The Phoenix Alumni.

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction, Call Now for Immediate Help: (801) 438-3185

The Phoenix Recovery Center
489 W. South Jordan Pkwy
Suite 400
South Jordan, UT