Bath Salts Abuse: Signs, Effects and Treatment Options

Unfortunately, bath salts are both psychologically and physically addictive. Frequent use of bath salts can cause a tolerance, where the individual will need to use more and more of the drug to get the same effect. Withdrawal symptoms will emerge once a person stops taking bath salts. Some of the most unpleasant, common side effects of bath salt withdrawal include:

Synthetic cathinones are similar to other stimulants, such as amphetamines, cocaine, and MDMA. Bath salts, however, are often ten times as powerful as common street drugs like cocaine. A bath salt high can produce the following symptoms:

Bath salts raise dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. These neurotransmitters are responsible for feelings of joy, alertness, and energy. Dopamine and serotonin also play an integral role in risk-and-reward behaviors. When someone abuses bath salts, they significantly increase the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. A high from bath salts can last between three and four hours.

Once a person stops taking bath salts, serotonin and dopamine levels crash. As a result, symptoms of depression can manifest. A person may feel down, lethargic, and have trouble concentrating during an episode of depression. Untreated depression can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. It’s vital that people who are withdrawing from bath salts are monitored for these effects.

Bath salts can also cause dangerous side effects, including increased blood pressure, heart rate, and chest pains. Chronic bath salt abuse can lead dehydration, kidney failure, and the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissues. Snorting or injecting bath salts come with higher risks of these dangerous side effects.

Bath salts are commonly used by people between the ages of 20 and 29. Polydrug abusers, however, are at higher risk of fatally overdosing on bath salts.

There are several distinct signs and symptoms of bath salt abuse, including but not limited to the following:

Bath salts are extremely toxic and can cause severe mental and physical health problems. For a person to recover from bath salt addiction, they will need to withdraw from the drugs safely. Depending on the severity of a person’s addiction, they can detox at an inpatient rehabilitation facility or an outpatient facility.

At an inpatient facility, patients are monitored 24/7 by medical staff and counselors. Outpatient programs enable people to stay at home, but periodically check in to a drug rehabilitation center. Severe addiction, however, will require a stay at an inpatient center, or possibly a stay in a medical detox center.  Patients suffering from severe addiction can experience intense withdrawal symptoms that can be potentially deadly, and also increase the risk of a relapse.

Once patients have safely and fully detoxed from bath salts, they can begin more intensive work in therapy and 12-step programs for addiction. In many cases, people who become addicted to drugs or alcohol use these substances to cope with stress, mental health conditions, or other traumas. During rehabilitation and therapy, patients can explore the deeper reasons behind their addiction. With a therapist’s help, they can find their unique stressors and triggers and learn valuable, positive coping mechanisms for dealing with them, that doesn’t include turning to drugs or alcohol.

Some patients may also suffer from a comorbid mental health condition. People with untreated mental health conditions are at risk of abusing drugs like bath salts to alleviate psychological distress. During rehab, these comorbid issues can be addressed and treated.

If you or a loved one are suffering from a bath salt addiction, it’s never too late to get help. Please reach out to a qualified drug abuse counselor to explore your treatment options for addiction.