Bath Salts: Street Drugs Cause of Teen Arrests

Oct 31, 2011
Kelly Pfeiffer

Several Arrests Due to New Synthetic Drug Bath Salts - Collwyn Cleveland

Bath salts are making headlines as a new street drug that has been reported in many teen arrests across the US.

Last year, synthetic marijuana was in the news every month as a legal way for teens to get high but in 2011, a drug called "bath salts" has received equal attention as a street drug that has been legally for sale in many stores until recently. Emergency rooms and doctors reported many cases of teenagers and young adults experiencing adverse side effects and also cases of teen arrests associated with this street drug. During the summer and fall, many cities, counties, states and even the federal DEA have taken swift steps to ban the sale and use of bath salts.

What are Bath Salts?

The new "bath salts" are not the type traditionally used in the bath tub. "Bath salts" is the street name given to a new type of drug concoction, sold at head shops and convenience stores. These products are not shelved with the bath products, but rather near other legal products such as caffeine pills, rolling papers and cigarette lighters. Bath salts contain the synthetic drug, methylone, a substance which causes hallucinations and usually raises the body temperature.

This new street drug has also been called synthetic cocaine or synthetic meth because the users will get high with similar effects. But some users experienced paranoia to the point of extreme property destruction and self injury. According to articles and reports from poison control centers and hospital emergency rooms, teens and young adults are snorting, injecting or smoking the powdery substance.

It’s not clear as to why this street drug is known by the name of bath salts, since it has nothing to do with bathing. At times, the drugs are sold in small jars that bear a resemblance to bath products. Also calling the substance a name that doesn’t suggest food or drugs allows makers and sellers to label the product as “not for human consumption”. From reading and hearing the latest news reports of bath salts use, one can only assume that those who purchase the synthetic cocaine to get high are intentionally ignoring the health label.

Teen Arrests Associated with Bath Salts

Several of the teen arrests reported around the country illustrate the paranoia and erratic behavior that synthetic cocaine can cause. A few of the stories could be labeled as bizarre.

According to the Bangor Daily News, one teenage boy caused over $30,000 damage to windows and equipment at a medical center in Maine after using bath salts. Fox News in Indiana reported that a 14-year-old girl vomited blood after a night of drug use including synthetic marijuana and bath salts. The Charleston Gazette published a story about another teenager who stole a goat, donned women’s underwear, then stabbed and killed the goat in Charleston, West Virginia.

Now that bath salts have been banned by the DEA and by state and local municipalities, teen arrests are also being made for simple possession of synthetic cocaine. Only time will tell what the future holds for teenagers and young adults who choose to use bath salts.