Our Opinion: Awash in horrifying side effects

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Side effects may include hallucinations, paranoia, rapid heart rates, self-mutilation, suicidal thoughts and death by poisoning.

Sound appealing?

Not if common sense plays any role in your decision-making.

But for people willing to risk their lives to obtain the newest mind-altering high, snorting, injecting or smoking bath salts has become the latest craze.

Sold under names including Ivory Snow, Red Dove and Vanilla Sky, the bath salts contain the synthetic substances mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV.

The substances aren’t regulated because they’re not sold for human consumption.

Nevertheless, they are being consumed, sometimes with frightening consequences.

One veteran drug-user who got high on bath salts reported he suffered terrifying hallucinations and lacerated both his face and stomach with a skinning knife.

Compounding the risk is the chemical’s ability to create irrational urges. “It causes intense cravings for it,” said Dr. Mark Ryan, director of Louisiana’s poison control center. “They’ll binge on it three or four days before they show up in an ER. Even though it’s a horrible trip, they want to do it again and again.”

Like other synthetic substances, including K-2, that have been misused and abused, the bath salts are coming under scrutiny by federal and state governments.

Missouri is not immune to the trend.

The Missouri Poison Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center received 12 calls about the chemical in the first two weeks of January, surpassing the number of similar calls during all of last year.

Once again, we encourage parental vigilance, while conceding its limited role in curbing this disturbing trend.

And, as always, we marvel at the human capacity to inflict self-punishment, triggering yet another instance of looking to government to protect us from ourselves.

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fultonian 2 years, 3 months ago

so, first of all, who sits around the house and looks for things to snort until they get high, and what have they tried that wasn't effective? Second of all, let these people die. We continue to keep alive those that want to destroy themselves and DEevolve our species. If we could just let the stupid people do what they want the problem would fix itself. Don't give me any business about kids who don't know any better either, I was a kid once and would have NEVER snorted bath salts, or anything else, to get high.

rock1853 2 years, 3 months ago

AMEN. Think I'll try and snort cooking oil and see if I get fried!

malmark 2 years, 3 months ago

bout time for a smoke isn't it?

rock1853 2 years, 3 months ago

I'm gonna guess this comment is directed at me as you clearly don't smoke. But guess what. I don't smoke either. So much for your assuptions.

malmark 2 years, 3 months ago

no I was suggesting an alternate high that will kill you a little more slowly. Be my guest if you wanna go with the bath salts though. I won't stop ya ;) ps. it's not my intention to be mean, just humourous!

malmark 2 years, 3 months ago

That's because you have no sense of humour.

fultonian 2 years, 3 months ago

Yeah, I don't smoke either so I guess I don't get it. Look I was a non smoker against the smoking ban but I'm willing to let it go now, so why don't you do the same okay? this article has nothing to do with smoking so just leave it alone.

malmark 2 years, 3 months ago

Well thank you for your poignant insight Fultonian, I am understanding that my attempt at humour is not appreciated in this forum. I appreciate that you are willing to let it go, even though you were opposed and I do commend you for that. I will let it go this time unless I am spurred to make a rebuttal.

rock1853 2 years, 3 months ago

So it's ok for me to smoke a joint or bath salts, but not a harmless, legal e-cig? Or a legal/taxed cigarette in my car? You appear to have issues with tobacco but everything else is fine. Wow. You have just destroyed any creditbility you may or may not have had.

malmark 2 years, 3 months ago

Way to go trying to put words in my mouth! I didn't say anything about smoking a joint. I just told you if you wanted to go kill yourself with bath salts to be my guest. At least that way you can take yourself out without harming anyone else. No I don't have an issue with you smoking in your car, where did I say that? I think you're the one who's got credibility issues spreading false rumours and making assumptions.

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