Drugs Explained
Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts)
There are NO medications currently available to treat addiction to synthetic cathinones.
Synthetic Cathinones are man-made stimulants that can be addictive and in some cases very dangerous.
What are the effects of synthetic cathinones?
Synthetic cathinones usually take the form of a white or brown crystal-like powder and are sold in small plastic or foil packages.
They are unregulated psychoactive mind-altering substances with no legitimate medical use and are made to copy the effects of controlled substances.
Products sold as “Molly” often contain synthetic cathinones instead of MDMA and can be labelled as bath salts, plant food, jewellery cleaner, or phone screen cleaner, or "not for human consumption."
Much is still unknown about how synthetic cathinones affect the human brain. Researchers do know that they are chemically similar to drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, and MDMA, but at least 10 times more powerful.
Detrimental health effects of synthetic cathinones include:
paranoia
extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
hallucinations
experiencing sensations and images that seem real but are not
increased friendliness
increased sex drive
panic attacks
excited delirium
extreme agitation and violent behaviour
Other effects include raised heart rate, blood pressure and chest pain. People who experience delirium often suffer from dehydration, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, and kidney failure. The worst outcomes are associated with snorting or needle injection.
Synthetic Cathinones also go by the street names Bath salts or Molly
Synthetic Cathinones are introduced and reintroduced into the market in quick succession to dodge or hinder law enforcement efforts to address their manufacture and sale and are marketed as cheap substitutes for other stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine.
*For more information go to – synthetic cathinones (Bath Salts) Drugfacts National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
