Just when we thought we heard it all with the guzzling of Four Lokos and snorting of nutmeg, there’s a new product on store shelves being abused.

Companies are selling “bath salts”, which are actually a dangerous stimulant similar to cocaine or meth.

As CBS.com reported today:

While relatively unheard of just a couple of years ago, its use is on the rise and it’s believed to have caused at least four deaths around the country.

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained these substances are not about spas or baths.

She explained, “The name sounds harmless. In reality, they are anything but harmless. These contain a designer or synthetic drug, mephedrone or MDPV. It’s an amphetamine. They’re marketed as bath salts and you can find them online or in stores under names like Zoom 2 or Aura. Our producer found them very easily in New York City. When she asked for them, she was told, ‘Wow, they’re flying off the shelves. It’s a good thing you’re getting these.’”Hill added, “One of our researchers was told these will get you really high.”

Ashton said, “It’s a central nervous system stimulant, so it will increase your blood pressure, increase your heart rate, can cause anything from chest pain, heart attack, stroke. Those are just the physical symptoms. Some psychological (symptoms include) delusions, paranoia, psychosis. They’re highly addictive, very dangerous.”

Source: CBS

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